Surname Beamish - Meaning and Origin

Beamish: What does the surname Beamish mean?

The last name Beamish is of English origin and is an Anglicized version of the Gaelic name O’Beamish or MacBiamisteach. It is thought to have derived as a nickname from the term “bíamas,” which is an Old Irish word for ‘lively, active’ in reference to people who were always on the go.

The Beamish family were originally an agricultural clan and the name is often associated with County Durham in northeastern England. The earliest record of the family is thought to be at the marriage of Arte the Beamish to Joice Fowlis in 1777 in Durham County.

Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, the influence and population of the Beamish name grew in England and it can now be found scattered across the country and around the world. Members of the Beamish family are considered strong, active, and lively people who are driven to achieve their goals.

The Beamish name has a long and proud history in England and today it is a mark of distinction and honour for those who continue to bear the name.

Beamish: Where does the name Beamish come from?

The last name Beamish is most commonly found in England, with many families originating from the North East counties of Yorkshire and Durham. The name is derived from the Old English word 'beme' or 'beam' which means 'tree' or 'wooded hill'.

Today, the surname Beamish is distributed across England, with the majority of the population residing in Yorkshire and Durham. Notable concentration of Beamish families are found in South Yorkshire- most notably in Sheffield, Doncaster and Barnsley- and County Durham. Beyond England, the name Beamish is found in Australia, Germany, Canada and the United States.

In the US, the last name is most commonly in the eastern states, along the Atlantic seaboard and the Great Lakes. However, it is not exclusive to this region and does have some pockets of population in California, Nevada and, to a lesser extent, in Texas and Oklahoma. In Canada, Beamish families are mostly found in either Ontario or British Columbia.

The Beamish family name is undoubtedly old and, according to The Oxford Dictionary of English Surnames, was first found in Durham around 1219. While it is not as common as it once was, there are still many people in England and across the world who proudly bear the Beamish name, carrying on an almost 800 year old tradition.

Variations of the surname Beamish

The surname Beamish is an Anglicized version of the Gaelic Mac an Bháis, meaning "son of death" and is derived from the Irish word "báis" meaning death. This surname has numerous variants, spellings and associated surnames, as a result of regional dialects and varying pronunciations.

Bamish, Beemish, Beemisse, Bemiss and Beemes are variants of the surname Beamish. These variants are phonetically similar to the original Beamish and inherit some of its Gaelic linguistic ancestry.

Other spellings and associated surnames include Bemish, Bemment, Bemmon, Bement, Beames and Beaumes. These spellings tend to have English linguistic origins and demonstrate the diverse range of languages from which the surname Beamish was derived.

Furthermore, other surnames and spellings similar to Beamish, but with slightly different meanings, include: Beemish (son of the Saint); Beamesy or Bemesy (son of Henry); Beamesey (son of James); and Beemson (son of Beem).

In total, the surname Beamish has a significant number of variations, spellings, and associated surnames representing a wide range of languages. These variants maintain and preserve the history and heritage of the original Gaelic Mac an Bháis, and demonstrate the diversity of the surname's origins and subsequent evolution.

Famous people with the name Beamish

• Paul Beamish: Economist and professor at the Ivey Business School at the University of Western Ontario
• Emma Beamish: Professional cyclist who competed in the 2012 London Olympic Games.
• Gabrielle Beamish: Professional golfer.
• Stephen Beamish: Major General and former commander of Joint Task Force North (now 3rd Canadian Division).
• Alexander Beamish: Australian politician and member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly.
• Michael Beamish: Football player who played for multiple teams between 1979 and 1984.
• William Beamish: Australian soldier and World War II recipient of the Victoria Cross.
• Toby Beamish: Professional photographer and winner of multiple awards.
• Emily Beamish: Contralto classical vocalist.
• John Beamish: Canadian ice hockey player who played for the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League.

Other surnames

BeamisBeamiss