Surname Beakes - Meaning and Origin
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Beakes: What does the surname Beakes mean?
The surname Beakes is thought to be of English origins and is believed to have derived from the Old English personal name Beaca, which was itself derived from the Olde English word beac meaning "a stream or brook". This type of name was typically used as a locational surname for individuals who resided near a stream. Beakes was first recorded in the Middle Ages and the earliest recorded spelling of the surname was found in the Poll Tax records of N Yorkshire in 1379, where the name Beake was recorded.
As with many surnames, the Beakes surname has similar variations around the world including Beakes, Bakes, Bake, Beake, and Beekes. It is also believed to be a patronymic surname, meaning it originates from a given name such as 'the son of Beaca'. Over the centuries, variations in spelling and pronunciation were common due to the limited education of individuals recording them.
Beakes is an uncommon surname and is still found primarily in the English-speaking areas such as the United States, England, Scotland, Ireland, Australia, and Canada. Throughout history, the Beakes family have often played an important role in local affairs, and have held many notable positions in society, such as landowners, aristocrats, and politicians.
Order DNA origin analysisBeakes: Where does the name Beakes come from?
The last name Beakes is not a particularly common name today. It is most concentrated in the United Kingdom, with the majority of Beakes found in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. It is also found in Ireland, Australasia, and the United States, but it is much rarer there.
The English surname Beakes was likely derived from a local toponym referring to someone who lived near beck or brook. In medieval England, a beck or a brook was a small stream or a shallow river. So someone with the last name Beakes may have lived in the vicinity of such water bodies.
The exact origin of the name is uncertain and could, in fact, be of Scotch-Irish or Anglo-Saxon origin. It is thought to be a corruption of the Anglo-Saxon Biec or Beccas which as a personal name denoted "lives by the stream."
The Beakes name is now most prevalent in the UK, particularly in the Midlands and North East England. It is also found in Newfoundland and on the Isle of Man. In the United States, the name is most popular in the Midwest and the South. In recent years, it is also seen in Canada, although it is still relatively rare there.
Variations of the surname Beakes
The surname Beakes is believed to have originated in England, possibly from several places with similar-sounding names such as Bessacarr in Yorkshire and Bescar in Lancashire. It is also possible that the name originated from the Old English words for "birch trees".
Variant spellings of the surname Beakes include Beake, Beakes, Bicke, Bick, Bickeis, Beechey, Beack, Beche, Becks, Becker, Bekes, Bekker, Bickel, Bickes, Bickley, Bickman, Bocke, Bockes, Bockman, Bockum, Boecke, Boke, Bokis, Bucke, Bäck, and others.
In some cases, a variant of the surname Beakes could be a shortened form of the name, such as Beak or Beck. Other surnames with a similar sound but different origins include Beach, Bache, Bake, Brooklyn, Bachman, and Burke.
The surname Beake or Beakes may also be found in other countries, such as in Scotland, Ireland, Wales, and Germany. For example, the German version of Beake or Beakes would be spelled as Bäck.
There are also a number of variations of the Beakes surname, such as the Beekes, Beckes, Beakey, Beaker, and Beakman. This could be a result of a misspelling or a family changing the spelling of their name over the years.
No matter which variation the surname is found under, the Beakes surname unites all those who bear it.
Famous people with the name Beakes
- Barry Beakes: Professional photographer
- Troy Beakes: Actor and filmmaker
- Elliot Beakes: Former American football tight end
- Marty Beakes: American comedian, actor, and director
- Alastair Beakes: English cricketer
- Will Beakes: American actor
- Alex Beakes: Former professional soccer player
- Reece Beakes: Professional cricketer
- Derek Beakes: British racing driver
- Jessica Beakes: Canadian-American actress