Surname Bellingham - Meaning and Origin
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Bellingham: What does the surname Bellingham mean?
The last name Bellingham is an English surname, thought to have derived from the place name Bellingham. This place name comes from the Old English words elements ‘beone’ meaning ‘bean’ or ‘beehive’, and ‘ham’ meaning ‘settlement’. The phrase 'bean settlement' likely referred to the abundance of beehives in this area, or the crops of beans grown there to feed the increasing population of the parish.
The earliest recorded instance of the surname Bellingham is from the year 1275; it was used to refer to a person from the village of Bellingham in the county of Northumberland. This instance is noted in the Feet of Fines (court documents from 339-1235, stating that a John de Belneham held lands from the Bishop of Durham in 1275.
The name continued to be used throughout England in the Middle Ages, with the name being recorded in many locations in England including Lancashire, Derbyshire, Shropshire, Cambridge, London, and others.
Today, the surname Bellingham is still seen throughout England and other parts of the world. It is also a popular surname in the United States, having come to America from England through migration. Ultimately, the name Bellingham is rooted in its place of origin and its early ties to that location. It remains a symbolic reminder of the past and of the importance of this place in history.
Order DNA origin analysisBellingham: Where does the name Bellingham come from?
The surname Bellingham is most commonly found in Great Britain and Ireland, particularly in northwest England. It is especially prevalent in Cheshire and Lancashire counties. In the 1881 census for England and Wales, there were 3,288 people with the name Bellingham. In Scotland, the last name appears to have originated there as a placename, as it is primarily found in Ayrshire.
The surname Bellingham is also recognizable in Australia. There are even two small towns in Australia that bear the Bellingham name. The first is located in NSW, and the second is located in Victoria. In addition, Bellinghams are found in the USA, Canada, and other parts of the world with the British diaspora.
The roots of the last name Bellingham can be traced back to the county of Cheshire in England. The earliest known record of the name dates back to 1260, when William Belinghama was recorded in the Assize Court of Warrington. The name is thought to have derived from a combination of two Old English words, belle, meaning “beautiful”, and ham, meaning “homestead”, which together means “the beautiful home”.
Today, the surname Bellingham is still quite common in the UK and Ireland, and is even found in other parts of the world as part of the British diaspora. It is also a popular surname in Australia, as well as the USA and Canada.
Variations of the surname Bellingham
Bellingham is derived from the Old English word bellingeham which translates to the meaning 'homestead of the family or followers of a man called Beli.' This surname is commonly seen in different spelling variations, such as Bellingam, Belingam, Belingham, Belinham, Bellingan, Belingan, Belinan, Belinham, Belligham, Beligham, Belinigan, Bellinghan, and Belinghan.
Variants of the surname are found in Italy, Scotland and England.Bellingam is a surname found in locations such as Wales and Ireland. In Wales, Bellingham is the anglicised of the Welsh equivalents "Belingham" and "Bellingham", which are derived from the Welsh personal name Beli.
In Scotland, Bellingham is typically spelled Belingham. It is derived from the Old English personal name Beli and used as a locational surname whose origin is hexham, Northumberland. In Ireland, Bellingham is an Anglicised form of the Irish surname Ó Bealan. This surname is found primarily in the provinces of Leinster and Munster. Additionally, the Gaelic surname Mac Bellingham is derived from the Gaelic Mac Giolla Bhuachaille, which translates to the meaning "son of the follower of St.Buchanan" who was Bishop of Glasgow in the 12th century.
Overall, Bellingham is an ancient surname originating from the Old English, Welsh, Irish and Scottish roots with a myriad of spelling variations. Variants and spellings of the Bellingham surname differ from region to region, with some common surname spellings including Belan, Bellan, Belon, and Bellon.
Famous people with the name Bellingham
- Fiona Bellingham: Former British television presenter and radio host.
- Frank Bellingham: Academy Award-winning British actor best known for his portrayal of Mr. Banks in Mary Poppins.
- Chris Bellingham: British professional rugby player who competed for Harlequins and Bristol Bears.
- Bill Bellingham: American actor best known for his roles in Mission: Impossible, Star Trek: The Next Generation, and Grey's Anatomy.
- Johnny Bellingham: Former Irish footballer who also managed Cliftonville FC.
- Alexander Bellingham: British mechanical engineer who developed a system of telegraphy and was the first to transmit an electric signal across the Atlantic.
- Mark Bellingham: Former British Member of Parliament for Birmingham Northfield.
- Elizabeth Bellingham: British human rights lawyer specializing in media and gender equality.
- Rosamund Bellingham-Smith: British peer and historian who served in the House of Lords for more than 20 years.
- John Bellingham: British assassin who was the first to successfully assassinate a Prime Minister when he shot and killed Spencer Perceval in 1812.