Surname Begley - Meaning and Origin

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Q. Begley

Begley: What does the surname Begley mean?

The surname Begley is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic name "O Beaglaoich," meaning "descendant of the little hero." It is a patronymic name, which signifies that it would have initially been given to the son of a man recognized as a "little hero." This term could possibly be a fond nickname or denote a person of small stature who was also a capable and brave warrior. Like many Irish surnames, it has several spelling variations, including Beagley, Beegley, Bigley, among others. The Begleys were an influential clan in the Irish province of Munster and their ancestral home was the Corca Laoidhe region in the southwestern part of County Cork. The name is still pretty prevalent in Ireland today, especially in County Kerry, and has spread around the globe through migration.

Begley: Where does the name Begley come from?

The last name Begley is of Irish origin, deriving from the Gaelic name "O Beaglaoich," which means "descendant of Beaglaoch." The personal name Beaglaoch is made up of two components, 'beag' meaning ‘little’ and 'laoch' meaning ‘hero.’ Thus, the overall meaning can be interpreted as "descendant of the little hero." The family was part of the southern Ui Neill clan and the name is first recorded in the early 11th Century. They were primarily located in the county of Kerry and other parts of Munster.

Today, the Begley name is still primarily found in Ireland. However, due to the impact of emigration during times of hardship in Irish history, particularly the Great Famine in the mid 19th century, the name has spread to other English-speaking countries. Therefore, Begley is a surname that can now be found in places like the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom, although it continues to be most common in Ireland.

Variations of the surname Begley

The surname Begley is Irish in origin and is an anglicized form of the native Gaelic name "O'Begley," which in turn is derived from "O Beaglaoich". This means 'descendant of Beaglaoich', a descendant's nickname defined as 'little hero'.

Over the years, and through numerous translations and shifts in languages, a number of variants and potential alternate spellings have appeared for the surname Begley. Different regions in Ireland have their own variations, with "Begley" being most common.

The variant "Beagley" is seen sometimes and other transliterations include "Begly" and "Bigley". In its original Gaelic form, it may also appear as "O Beaglaoich" or "Ó Beaglaoich".

"Beigley", "Bagley", "Beegley", "Bigly" and "Begaley" are possible alternate spellings. The change from 'Beg-' to 'Bag-' or 'Big-' is particularly common in the English-speaking world and in counties of Ireland where accent and dialect have morphed the original pronunciation of the name.

Surname blends and consolidations over time can also create related surnames, such as "Bogley". As with other surnames, Begley may also take on regional or localized variants. Amidst all these, "Begley", "Bigley" and "Beagley" are the most commonly encountered spelling versions today.

Famous people with the name Begley

• Ed Begley Jr.: An American actor and environmental activist, known for his role in television series like "St. Elsewhere", "Arrested Development" and "Six Feet Under".
• Ed Begley Sr.: An American actor of theatre, radio, and film, and the father of Ed Begley Jr. He won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for the film "Sweet Bird of Youth".
• Barbara Begley: A British television presenter and newsreader, best known for her work with ITN and ITV.
• Sheila Begley: An Irish traditional music singer.
• Michael Begley: An English actor known for playing Tom Harding in the ITV series "Vera".
• Alice Begley: A renowned American author and historian from New York.
• Bill Begley: A basketball player who played in the Basketball Association of America for the Boston Celtics.
• Thomas Begley: An Irish republican who was a volunteer in the Belfast Brigade of the Provisional IRA.
• Stan Begley: An Australian football player.
• Paddy Begley: An Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with the Cork senior inter-county team in the 1910s.
• Katherine Begley: A teacher with an influence in Art Education. She has written a book, "Artistic Pursuits".
• Chris Begley: An archeologist focused on underwater and nautical archeology. He found a wreckage from the battle of the Alamo.

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