Surname Beese - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'B'
Beese: What does the surname Beese mean?
The last name Beese is an occupational surname derived from the Middle English word “bees” meaning beehive or beekeeper. This indicates that the original bearer of this surname was likely a beekeeper or involved in similar activities, possibly a market gardener who sold honey or wax products. The name is found in records as early as the 16th century in England, with variations of the spelling such as Beeze, Bees and Beez.
The Beese surname has also been recorded in Germany, where it may be a topographical name denoting someone living near a beehive. It is likely that the earliest bearers of the Beese name migrated from England to Germany in the 17th and 18th centuries, along with a large population of Protestants escaping religious persecution.
The Beese surname is still found across Europe today, with spelling variations in many countries. It is most common in Germany, followed by Switzerland, Denmark and Sweden. In the US, the spelling variation Beez is found most often. Today, the Beese name might bring to mind images of hardworking beekeepers throughout history, but its original meaning was likely much simpler – someone who lived near a beehive.
Order DNA origin analysisBeese: Where does the name Beese come from?
The last name Beese is most commonly found in Germany and in the states of North Rhine-Westphalia and Lower Saxony. According to a surname distribution study by Ancestry.com, 90 percent of all Beese occurrences are located within Germany.
The name Beese has Germanic roots and is derived from the personal name "Besa," which in turn comes from the medieval Germanic element "Besig," meaning "bold or brave." The name Beese is estimated to have been in circulation since the 13th century.
Alternative spellings of Beese include Beese, Bese, Bees, Besse, and Beesey. The surname Beese is associated with various spellings and variants; however, its meaning and root remain the same.
Outside of Germany, the name Beese can also be found in other European countries, such as the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg. Within the United States, Beese is particularly common in states that have a significant population of people with a German background, such as Wisconsin, Iowa, and Nebraska.
Overall, the name Beese is most densely concentrated in Germany, but can also be found in other countries and regions throughout Europe, as well as in certain parts of the United States.
Variations of the surname Beese
The surname Beese is believed to be of Anglo-Saxon and Germanic origins. Different spellings and variants of the surname include Bees, Beas, Beez, Bes, Beasly, Beazley, Beasly, Besely, Bezel, and Bies.
The surname is believed to have derived from the personal name Beod, or Beaud, which was popular among the Anglo-Saxons in pre-medieval England. The Anglo-Saxon Theodoric, also commonly spelled 'Theodorus', was used as a personal name. As surnames were generally derived from personal names established in the Middle Ages, it is likely 'Beod' eventually morphed into the derivatives of 'Beese'.
In German and Dutch, variants of the surname Beese include Beese, Biess, Beess, Biess, Beyers, Boese, and Boess.
Variants of Beese which have been established in the United States include Beasely, Beasley, Besely, Beazley, and Bies. Some of these variants can also be found in the United Kingdom.
Beese is sometimes confused with the surname Beez, which is usually of Italian or Spanish origin. It is derived from the Latin root word 'bellum', which means 'warrior'.
Famous people with the name Beese
- Willem Biese: a Dutch sprint canoer
- Paul Biese: a former professional tennis player from the US
- Adele Biese: a German author
- Melodie Beese: a Canadian-American film director and artist
- Hermann Biese: a German psychologist
- Simon Biese: a Swedish former equestrian show jumper
- Francis Biese: a former Australian rules footballer
- Josephine Biese: an American baseball player
- Casey Beese: an American drummer
- Rob Biese: an American professional golfer