Surname Bellis - Meaning and Origin
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Bellis: What does the surname Bellis mean?
The last name Bellis is a patronymic or occupational surname. It is derived from the Latin word bellus, meaning “beautiful.” The surname may have originally been given to a person who had a pleasant appearance, or one who worked with flowers or grew them.
Variations of the name can be found in several European languages. For example, in Denmark and Norway, it is spelled Bellis, while in Germany it is known as Bellissen.
In England, the name Bellis dates back to at least the 1200s. The earliest existing record of the surname there is from 1219, when a Robert Bellis was registered in the county of Oxfordshire. A Thomas Belliss was recorded in the Norfolk Poll Tax Rolls of 1379, while a Johanne Bellis was noted in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379.
In America, the surname first appeared in colonial Virginia in 1714, when Anna Bellis was transported to the colony from London. Throughout the centuries, the surname has spread to other countries, including Canada, Australia, India, New Zealand, and the United States.
The surname Bellis is a reminder of a long-standing family heritage and a reminder of the beauty that is embraced in every person. It is a reminder of the value of character, honor, and integrity in any family tree.
Order DNA origin analysisBellis: Where does the name Bellis come from?
The last name Bellis is most commonly found among families of British, Irish, and Scottish descent. It is not an especially common name, but it is recognizable, with notable individuals having the name in areas ranging from Australia to the United States.
In the United Kingdom, the Bellis name is primarily found in the England. According to the 2019 records, it ranks in the top 4,000 in England and Wales, with the highest populations overall in the London and Yorkshire areas. It's also seen moderately often in Scotland, with the greatest amount of individuals bearing the name found in Nithsdale, Scotland.
The Bellis surname can also be found spread throughout much of the English-speaking world. It is found most frequently in Australia, the United States, and Canada. In the US, the Bellis name is particularly common in the Pacific Northwest and the Upper Midwest.
No matter where individuals with this name are located, regardless of geographic distribution, the Bellis family tradition is one of hard work, dedication, and a common love of family. As such, many people take delight in finding and researching their Bellis family heritage, archetypes, values, and customs.
Variations of the surname Bellis
The surname Bellis is generally considered to be of English origin, however there are variant spellings, surnames, and branches of this surname throughout many modern-day countries. Wood, for example, states that “the Bellis family name has various spellings, many of which are derived from other European languages.”
Variant spellings of the surname Bellis include Bells, Belles, Belleis, Bellis, Belliss, Bellise, Bellissier, Belesy, Bellessen, Billis, and Billiss.
The most common derivatives of the surname Bellis are those with a French origin, such as Belley, Belloc, Bellet, Belleau, Bellier, Belluet, and Belot. Other French-based surnames, such as Buell, De Bella, De Belley, De Bello, Del Bello, De Belloc, and Belleaux, provide additional French variations to the Bellis surname.
In addition, the Dutch van Bellen, the German Belitz, and the Italian Bellisso are further alternate spellings of the name, as well as many other Irish surnames, including O’Belleis, McBellis, and O’Belleiss.
As the Bellis surname is so diverse and is derived from many countries in the world, the variations of the name generally reflect the immigration of the family from the British Isles, and from other parts of Europe, to other places around the globe. As a result, there are likely to be even more spelling variations of the Bellis name, depending on a particular branch’s immigration histories and the influence of other cultures in the region.
Famous people with the name Bellis
- Bill Bellis: Professional race car driver who competed in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and the NASCAR Busch Series.
- Mike Bellis: Major League Baseball pitcher who played from 1986 to 1994 in multiple teams including the Oakland Athletics, Minnesota Twins, and Pittsburgh Pirates.
- Evan Bellis: American actor, musician, and stuntman who has appeared in the films Bad Santa, Crocodile Dundee in Los Angeles, and Idlewild.
- Phil Bellis: Former National Football League casting director for films such as The Replacements, Any Given Sunday, and The Longest Yard.
- Andre Bellis: American professional basketball player who has played for teams in the National Basketball Association and leagues in Europe and Asia.
- Mary Bellis: American inventor and writer who is best known for her writing on popular scientific topics.
- Chico Bellis: Actor, producer, and guitarist who is most known for playing the Henry Sachs role in the television series The Neighbors.
- Jim Bellis: Ex-English cricketer who played for Lancashire during the 1988-1989 season.
- Sal Bellis: Record producer, radio deejay, American music executive, and former executive at American Recordings.
- Sarah Bellis: British actress who is best known for her roles on the television series Auf Wiedersehen, Pet and Secret Diary of a Call Girl.