Surname Begay - Meaning and Origin

TITLE An Ancestral Twirl: Unearthing Begay and Puebloan Heritage Through DNA Test

LEAD Discovering a link to the ancient Puebloans in addition to my known Begay ancestry created an unexpected yet thrilling turn in my quest for self-awareness. This iGENEA DNA test has offered an enriched narrative about my identity, leaving profound imprints on my self-understanding.

B. Begay

Begay: What does the surname Begay mean?

The last name Begay is traditionally associated with people of the Navajo Nation, an indigenous group of people originally from the southwestern United States. The literal translation of the name means "one who was born of the Navajo Nation." It is believed that the name originated as a way to identify people with ties to the indigenous group.

Today, the Begay name is still used in many Navajo Nation communities, but it is also found amongst mainstream society. People of various backgrounds, including European and Mexican, have adopted the name in recent years.

The Begay name is likely derived from the Navajo words 'beg" which means offsprings or descendants, and "ay" which means born. This combination then refers to those who were "born of the Navajo Nation," or "children of the land."

The Begay name and its associated meaning are an important part of Navajo culture. The name reflects pride in one's heritage and serves to connect those who bear it to the ancient culture of the indigenous people. Furthermore, it is a reminder that people of all backgrounds can share in the traditions and culture of the Navajo Nation.

Begay: Where does the name Begay come from?

The last name Begay is most commonly found in the southwestern United States among the Native American population. In particular, the name is popular among the Navajo Nation, where it may have come from an anglicization of biye’gaii or biye’oola, the Navajo words for “rich” and “smooth,” respectively. Outside of the United States, the name Begay is found less frequently. It is particularly common in Canada, especially the province of Manitoba where there is a high population of First Nations individuals. According to one source, the name Begay is most commonly found in the United States in the southeastern states of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah. It is also found currently in California, Colorado, Montana, Oklahoma, and Texas. Additionally, Begay is found in smaller numbers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Nevada, and Washington.

Variations of the surname Begay

The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Begay include Begaye, Begayeaux, Begeay, Begayau, Begayaui, Begai, Begaiu, Begaiui, Begeau, Begeaui, Begieau, Begieu, Begleau, Begue, Beguel, Begues, Beguesse, Beguex, Beguin, Beguine, Beguey, Beguez, and Beguezan.

Begay is a French-Canadian surname derived from the Old French word begai, meaning “hemmed in.” The surname was originally used by people who lived in the valley of the Loire River in France. The spelling of the surname can vary from one person to the next, as the pronunciation can differ slightly between various regional dialects.

In France, the surname Begay is most commonly found in the region of Brittany, where it is usually spelled Begue. In Canada, where the surname can be traced back to the seventeenth century, many variants have been identified, including Begeay, Begai, Begeau, Begeaui, Begieau, Begieu, Begleau, Begue, Beguel, Begues, Beguesse, Beguex, Beguin, Beguine, Beguey, Beguez, and Beguezan. Variants of Begay are also found in Quebec, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Ontario, as well as in the United States, particularly in California, Arizona, New Mexico and Colorado.

In the United States, the Begay surname is often confused with the French surname Bayeux or the Belgian surname Begaux. All three surnames likely originated from the same Old French term, begai. It is likely that the various spellings of the surname were adapted from region to region in order to better reflect local pronunciations.

Alternate spellings of Begay are indicative of its many variations within the French language and its regional dialects. This variance of the surname makes it difficult to trace one's ancestry but nonetheless speaks to the family's deep history and cultural origin.

Famous people with the name Begay

• Notah Begay: Retired professional golfer
• Cassandra Begay: Writer, Musician, and Artist from Phoenix, Arizona
• Shelby Begay: Navajo Nation Council Delegate
• Stephanie Fryberg: Researcher at the University of Arizona and member of the Navajo Nation
• Ernie Begay: Earlobe repair practitioner
• Janice Begay: Payment Specialist at Diné College
• Julio Begay: Mixed Media Artist from Arizona
• Arlinda Begay: Program Director at Native American Development Corporation
• Adam Begay: Sergeant in the United States Army
• Adrian Begay:Executive Chef at Flying Horse in Santa Fe
• Tangie Begay: Aboriginal American Artist
• Delday Begay: Navajo Jeweler and Silversmith
• Reynold Begay: Owner of Reinskids Travel Agency
• Emmett Begay: Musician from the Navajo Nation
• Yolanda Begay: Executive Director at Diné Fantasy
• LaVern Begay: Navajo Nation Legislator
• SUNU Begay: Consultant focusing on Indigenous issues
• Darryl Begay: Experimental Artist and Musician
• Sarah Begay: Professional Wrestler and MMA fighter 20.Steven Begay: Tribal Advocate and Attorney 21.Hilary Begay: Member of the Gaagii Dine Nation 22.Tunny Begay: Professor of Education at Fort Lewis College 23.Jalon Begay: Traditional Dancer from the Navajo Nation 24.Tommy Begay: Navajo Code Talker 25.Delphine Begay: Member, Navajo Nation Council

Other surnames

BegaleBegalkeBegall