Surname Beams - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'B'
Beams: What does the surname Beams mean?
The last name Beams is of English origin and it is derived from the Old English term "beam," which typically means a post or a tree. It is generally considered as a topographic surname for individuals who lived by a post or tree, or possibly an occupational surname for a person who worked with beams, like a carpenter. The term "beam" was also occasionally used in Old English to refer to a measure of land, i.e., as long as a beam. The Beams surname's early medieval origins are thus linked to people's everyday life and activities. Surnames like Beams developed gradually to help distinguish between individuals with the same first name, and were often associated with the person's occupation, location, or characteristics. Please remember that surname meanings are always interpreted and these interpretations can vary largely.
Order DNA origin analysisBeams: Where does the name Beams come from?
Beams is an English surname which appears to have multiple origins. Some genealogists assert it emerged from the Old English word "beam," which means tree or beam, and was likely used to designate someone who lived near a prominent tree or worked with beams, such as a carpenter or builder. Others suggest it may be derived from the given name "Beme" from the pre-7th century.
In terms of geographic distribution, Beams is most common in the United States today, according to Forebears, a genealogy resource. After the U.S., the surname is most frequently found in England and Australia. The earliest recorded instance of the name dates back to the 1200s in Oxfordshire, England. The variations of the surname include Beam, Beames, Beame, and Beamish. Despite these multiple origins and variants, the Beams surname remains quite rare globally.
Variations of the surname Beams
The surname Beams can have different variants and spellings that may have the same or similar origin. Some of these include Beames, Beam, Beamon, Beeman, Beamish, and Beamont. It can sometimes be spelled phonetically as Beem or Beemis. These variations might occur due to regional dialects, phonetic spelling or translation to and from other languages.
Some surnames that may share the same origin with Beams include the German name Böhme, or Boeme, which means 'the Bohemian'. It referred to people from Bohemia, the westernmost region of the Czech Republic. It has similar pronunciation with Beams, and may have been anglicised to Beams by some families.
Similarly, the English surname Bemis or Beamiss might have the same origin. Both names could have derived from the old Norman personal name 'Beme', which could later have changed into Bemis or Beams.
The different variants and spellings of Beams can also be due to orthographic reforms, migration, and miscommunications over time, causing the surname to adapt and change. Different members of the same family could even end up with different surnames due to these reasons.
Famous people with the name Beams
- Jessica Beams: An Australian actress known for her role in the TV series, "Doctors".
- Daniel Beams: A former American footballer who played for the New England Patriots in the National Football League (NFL).
- Brian Beams: An American physicist who contributed significantly to the field of Electron Microscopy.
- Bobby Beams: A retired Major League Baseball player from the USA. He played primarily as a pitcher during his career.
- Derrick Beams: A successful businessman and philanthropist in the USA.
- Karen Beams: A New York-based artist who specializes in abstract paintings.
- Jeff Beams: An American country music singer who made a name for himself in the 80s and 90s.
- Laurence Beams: A renowned British historian and author of many books about World War II.
- Betty Beams: A British actress best known for her roles in UK soap operas during the late 1980s and 1990s. Please note that some of these individuals may not be universally recognized as "famous," but they have achieved a degree of success and notoriety within their respective fields.