Surname Beggs - Meaning and Origin
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Beggs: What does the surname Beggs mean?
The surname Beggs is of Irish origin and derived from the ancient Gaelic name "O'Begley". Over the years, the spelling of the surname has evolved, potentially due to dialectal differences and illiteracy among the lower classes. The original Gaelic "O" prefix, which means "grandson of" or "descended from," has mostly dropped in modern variants of the name, leaving us with the form "Beggs". The "Begley" part is believed to come from "beag," a Gaelic word which means "little" or "small." Therefore, the whole surname implies to someone being the descendant of a small or little man. The surname, like many others, was likely originally a nickname that eventually became a hereditary name passed from generation to generation.
Order DNA origin analysisBeggs: Where does the name Beggs come from?
The last name Beggs is of Scottish and Irish origin. In Scotland, it originated from the Begs clan of Patri region and is derived from the word "beg" meaning "little". In Ireland, it was an Anglicized form of the Gaelic Ó Beagáin, derived from "beag" also meaning "small". This surname typically denoted someone who was small or short in stature.
The Beggs surname is common today in countries such as Scotland, Ireland, and the United States. In the British Isles, particularly Northern Ireland, Scotland, and parts of England, the surname has a strong presence. The Beggs family name is also quite familiar among the Scottish diaspora in countries like Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Additionally, a considerable number of Beggs families migrated to the United States, particularly during the years of the Great Famine of Ireland in the mid-19th century, making it fairly common in certain parts of the U.S. today. Furthermore, some Beggs families also emigrated to South Africa and other parts of the globe during times of economic hardship or political unrest.
Variations of the surname Beggs
The surname Beggs originated from the ancient Scottish region of Galloway. The surname has several different variants, spelling, and other surnames of the same origin. Variants include Begg, Beg, Begge, Bigg, Biggs, Bieggs, Biegg, Biegs, and Biegg.
Some old and distinct spellings emerged over time due to different regional dialects, phonetics, and even translations. Instances of these old variations include John Begge who was noted in the Register of the Privy Seal in 1526 and Margaret Begg who was recorded in Edinburgh in 1806. Other rare and extinct versions may exist and can only be found in old records or genealogical histories.
The surname may also be an Anglicised version of the Irish Ó Beagáin, which itself is derived from the word beag, meaning 'small'.
Similar surnames with the same origin of ‘Beggs’ could include the surnames Baggs, Boggs, Bogis, Byggs, and Bygges.
The Beggs surname, along with its variations, is found in several countries across the world today, including Scotland, England, Ireland, Canada, the United States, and Australia.
Famous people with the name Beggs
- Angela Beggs: A scientist with a PhD in Engineering Science from the University of Oxford who currently works at the University of Washington in Seattle.
- Christopher Beggs: A British ex-navy officer and artist best known for his work in the Kudos Gallery, a gallery he established to promote contemporary art and craft.
- Colin Beggs: An Olympic medalist in the sport of modern pentathlon, where he won a silver medal at the 1976 Summer Olympic Games.
- Colin Beggs: A professional cricketer who has represented Canada in the Twenty20 Internationals.
- David Beggs: A British actor best known for his roles as Joan Hunter Dumbledore in the Harry Potter series.
- Don Beggs: A former professional American football player who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 12 seasons.
- Patch Beggs: An Australian author, public speaker, and one of Australia’s most prolific political activists.
- Tim Beggs: A retired American race car driver who won the Indianapolis 500 three times.
- William Beggs: An author, historian, and academic best known for his works on Scottish history and literature.
- Professor William Beggs: An academic based in Scotland who is a professor at the University of St Andrews and an advocate for Scottish independence.