Surname Beasley - Meaning and Origin

Revealing the Intricate Tapestry of Ancestry: My iGENEA DNA Journey with Surname 'Beasley'

Discovering one's ancestry can bring about jaw-dropping revelations or humbling realizations about your roots. For me, it was initiating an intriguing adventure when I decided to get the iGENEA DNA test. I was finally going to crack open my ancestry and take a good look at the roots of my surname - 'Beasley'.

G. Beasley

Beasley: What does the surname Beasley mean?

The surname Beasley is of English origin and has interesting derivations from Old English. It derives from two Old English words - "beos", which means 'bent grass', and "leah", meaning 'wood, glade, clearing, meadow, or field'. Thus, Beasley can be interpreted as 'the clearing covered with bent grass'.

The name is habitational, which means it was often taken by inhabitants of a particular place. It can be traced back to various places named Beasley or similar in England. As surnames became a necessity for taxation purposes in the Middle Ages, residents commonly adopted the name of their locality.

However, the pronunciation and spelling of surnames like Beasley could have varied greatly during the Middle Ages, given the widespread illiteracy and the absence of any spelling rules. Hence, Beasley could have several spelling variations, such as Besley, Beazley, Beasley, Beasely, Beesely, Beesley, Bezley, and others. Like many surnames that became hereditary in families, Beasley spread geographically over the centuries and hence is found in several regions today.

Beasley: Where does the name Beasley come from?

The surname Beasley is of English origin, derived from a geographical locality, 'at the Beasley,' a spot in Lancashire. It usually refers to someone who lived by the stream of a man named Beag or Beo. Hence, it’s an amalgamation of “Beo” (a personal name) and “leah” (woodland clearing).

The surname first appeared in the mid 16th century in Lancashire, England. Today, Beasley is a common surname in the English-speaking world, especially in the United States, England, Canada, and Australia. In the United States, it is notably prevalent in the southeast, in states such as Georgia, Alabama, and North Carolina.

It is also famous due to various sportspersons and personalities, such as professional football player Cole Beasley and professional basketball player Michael Beasley, making the name prominent in popular culture. Despite changes over centuries, the name Beasley's popularity remains quite steady.

Variations of the surname Beasley

The surname Beasley may have several variants as is common with most surnames, due to regional dialects, phonetic spelling, or translation from other languages. Some of the variants of Beasley are Beesley, Beazley, Beazely, Beasely, Bezley, Bastley, Beesly, Beesleigh, Beazleigh, Beasleigh, Beausley, Beausleigh, and Besley. The name Beasley is of Anglo-Saxon origin and reportedly refers to an early village in the UK thought to be named "beos," and "leah," which stand for 'Bee' and 'woodland clearing,' respectively. Variations of the name in other languages include Biasoli (Italian), Biesler (German), and Bazli (Farsi). The plural form of the name (used in Russian and some Eastern European countries) is Beasleys or Beaslies. These are the most common variants, but there may be more obscure derivatives or phonetic spellings especially in non-English speaking countries.

Famous people with the name Beasley

• Allyce Beasley: An American actress best known for her role in the television series "Moonlighting."
• Michael Beasley: An American professional basketball player who has played for teams like the Miami Heat and Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA.
• Malinda Beasley: A former American film actress who appeared in over 30 films during the silent era.
• Cole Beasley: An American football player for the Buffalo Bills in the NFL.
• John Beasley: An American actor known for roles in films like "The Sum of All Fears" and "The Purge: Anarchy."
• John Albert Beasley: An American jazz pianist and music director.
• Mary Grace Canfield Beasley: An American actress known for her role in the popular TV series, "Green Acres."
• John Beasley (basketball): A former American professional basketball player in the NBA.
• Vic Beasley: An American football player for the Atlanta Falcons in the NFL.
• Marie-Alise Recasner Beasley: An American actress known for her roles in various soap operas.
• Homer Beasley: An American country music songwriter.
• Jerome Beasley: An American professional basketball player.
• Jean Beasley: An American actress known for her roles in the TV series "Grey's Anatomy."
• Brad Beasley: An American radio personality.

Other surnames

Beasly