Surname Begly - Meaning and Origin
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Begly: What does the surname Begly mean?
Begly is an Irish surname with an ancient Gaelic origin. It has evolved from the original Gaelic name "O Beaglaoich" which translates to "descendant of the small hero or champion". The prefix "O" denotes "descendant of" while "Beaglaoich" meant someone who was small in size but valorous or heroic. Thus, this name is largely figurative and pays homage to an esteemed ancestor in the family who was distinguished for his bravery, if not his stature. Many different spellings of the surname exist including Bagley, Beegley, Begley, Bigley, and Beagley, among others, due to the phonetic transliteration from Gaelic to English. This name is predominantly found in County Kerry in Southwestern Ireland, but its bearers have migrated to different regions across the globe due to various historical circumstances, including emigration during the Great Famine in the 19th century.
Order DNA origin analysisBegly: Where does the name Begly come from?
The surname Begly is of Irish origin. It is an anglicized version of the Gaelic name "O Beaglaoich," meaning "descendant of Beaglaoch." The name Beaglaoch itself is made of elements "beag," meaning "little," and "laoch," meaning "hero," hence a rough translation of Begly could mean "descendant of the little hero."
Historically, the name was first found in County Clare, located on the west coast of Ireland, where the Begly family held a family seat from ancient times. The name is also associated with County Kerry. Although dispersed after English invasions and policies such as the Great Famine, descendants of this family name can still commonly be found in these regions.
Today, the surname Begly can be found in countries where Irish diaspora settled, including the United States, Canada, Australia, and other parts of the UK. However, it is not regarded as a particularly common surname. The largest concentrations of individuals with the Begly surname would likely still be found in Ireland.
Variations of the surname Begly
The surname Begly is of Irish origin, specifically from the Gaelic name Ó Beaglaoich which translates to 'descendant of Beaglaoch'. Beaglaoch itself means 'little hero'.
Variant spellings for Begly include Bagley, Begley, and Bigley. These are mostly due to phonetic translations from Gaelic to English over time, depending on the region in Ireland and the time period.
Some additional, less common, variations of the surname include Beagly, Bigly, Bagly, Beglye and Beglie.
As for surnames of the same origin, there are other Irish 'Ó' or 'O' surnames having the same pattern of 'descendant of...' in their meaning. Examples of these include O'Neill (descendant of Niall), O'Brien (descendant of Brian), and O'Connor (descendant of Conchobhar). However, these surnames, while similar in formation, are not closely related to the surname Begly.
From a geographical perspective, the greatest concentration of people with the Begly surname in Ireland can be found in the counties of Kerry, Donegal, and Clare. It’s also prevalent in Irish immigrant communities, particularly in United States and Australia.
Famous people with the name Begly
The surname "Begly" is not commonly associated with many famous individuals. Possible variations of the name could bring a few notable people such as Jack Begley, a popular TV personality known for his role in the "The Curse of Oak Island" series aired on History Channel. Another significant individual is Edward Begley Jr., an Emmy-nominated American actor and environmental activist. However, since these individuals spell their last names as "Begley" instead of "Begly", it can be concluded that there might be no famous person with the exact spelling "Begly" recognizable in the mainstream media. Please note, the spellings and phonetics of surnames can widely vary, and the specifics of their origins can also contribute to the different ways of spelling one surname.