Surname Berclay - Meaning and Origin

Berclay: What does the surname Berclay mean?

The surname Berclay has origins from the British Isles, in particular Scotland, with references first found in the north-eastern Scotland in the 1600s. It is a patronymic surname, a surname derived from a father’s given name, in this case “Bercle” (later “Berclay”). The English interpretation of this name is ‘from a fortified enclosure’. This may refer to the fortified settlements or ‘burghs’ which were described in documents from the time as being constructed from a complex ‘ring work’ which was a single or double rampart that surrounded a village.

Berclay is the modern spelling of the surname, which has been found spelt in various ways such as Barclay, Bercla, Barclae, and Bercle throughout records. The surname had a presence not only in Scotland but in England too, with a significant number of the surname recorded in Essex and also the market town of Stony Stratford in Buckinghamshire.

Through time the surname spread beyond Great Britain, with references appearing in individual records in Ireland and the United States. Notable people with the surname Berclay include the English record producer and studio engineer Colin Berclay, and the Edinburgh born James Berclay FRS who was a noted academic, encyclopaedist and lawyer.

Overall, the surname Berclay is most commonly linked to Scotland and England with an original meaning of ‘from a fortified enclosure’. The name has spread throughout the world with the descendants of the original Berclays who moved from their British Isles home.

Berclay: Where does the name Berclay come from?

The surname Berclay is likely a variant of the surname Barclay, which is of Scottish origin. The name is derived from the Scots place name, Barclay, located near Kincardine in Northeast Scotland. The name itself is believed to have been derived from the Gaelic elements "barr," meaning a hill, and "caillie," which signifies a woods or a grove. This surname was prominent among the Scottish nobility and old records also show it had spread to England, particularly in the counties of Yorkshire and Cumbria.

Today, the exact variant 'Berclay' doesn't seem to be particularly common anywhere. However, the surname Barclay is still popular within the United Kingdom, especially in Scotland, and it has also spread to other English-speaking countries like the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. It's important to note that spelling variants of surnames are common, often due to errors in records, local dialects, or personal preference, so the presence of the 'Berclay' variation doesn't necessarily indicate a different surname, but may simply be a more uncommon spelling of Barclay.

Variations of the surname Berclay

The surname Berclay might be a variant of the popular Scottish and English surname 'Barclay'. The most common spellings of the name are Barclay and Berkley.

Barclay is primarily Scottish, derived from the ancient Norse personal name 'Bjornkell' which means 'bear cauldron'. It appears first in Scotland in the 12th century before it was introduced to England. There may be many variations due to regional dialects and anglicisation. Variations other than Berclay could include Berclaye, Barcley, Barkley, Berkley, Berckly, Berclay, Burkle and Barkly.

Additionally, the surname could be of locational origin. In this case, it may have been derived from places called Berkeley in Gloucestershire, or from Barcley in Yorkshire, England.

The Irish and Welsh surnames Berkley and Berklee respectively could also be related to Berclay. Variations of these could be Berkel, Berkell and Berkelle.

Although less common, some other potential variations of the name could include Barclee, Barcly, Berklie, Berkalay, Bercklye, Barcleye, Barklie, Barkleigh, and others.

However, it is important to note that Berclay or its variations are not very common, and exact origin may be difficult to determine without specific genealogical research.

Famous people with the name Berclay

• Alexander Berclay: A British playwright, actor and television writer, best known for writing the modern BBC comedy, which was adapted from William Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew.
• Sir Thomas Berclay: A Scottish barrister, politician, and author who served as the Member of Parliament for Govan in 1837–1841.
• Andy Berclay: Canadian professional ice hockey center who last played in the National Hockey League for the Los Angeles Kings.
• John Berclay: An American actor, producer, and director who has worked in television and film, appearing in such films as The Aviator and The Martian.
• Andrew Berclay: an Australian actor, best known for playing the lead role in the television mini-series Cloudstreet.
• Robert Berclay: was a radical American political activist, leading figure in the Abolitionist Movement, and human rights advocate.
• George Berclay: a British engineer who moved to South Africa in 1833 and soon after founded the “Berclay and Company” manufacturing business which manufactured a variety of goods.
• Eric Berclay: a Belgian jazz/experimental musician, composer and producer.
• Thomas Berclay: the lead singer of the long-running Scottish indie rock group The Delgados.
• Joseph Berclay: an English-born Australian filmmaker, best known for his documentary films about the Tasmanian bush, the country’s outback and its aboriginal inhabitants.

Other surnames

Bercley