Surname Beede - Meaning and Origin

Beede: What does the surname Beede mean?

The last name Beede is of English origins and is a topographic surname that was given to someone who lived near a beech tree. The surname was derived from the Old English word “be” which means beech and “ed” which means tree. It is a combination of the two that created the name Beede.

The Beede surname can be traced to the Old English period, which began around 5th century AD. It was during this time that many locative surnames were developed as farmers began to clear away woodland and replant the land for farming. It is likely that those bearing the Beede surname were landowners residing near or in a cluster of beech trees.

Throughout English history, the name Beede has been spelled in a variety of ways, such as Beed, Beede and Beelde. While the spelling changed, the meaning remained the same and the family descended from the single original Beede line. This family line was likely kept small as they moved around England, living near beech trees wherever they settled.

Today, the name Beede is still alive and well. While the families that carry the surname might not have any direct connection to beech trees, the name still serves as a reminder of their ancestral roots.

Beede: Where does the name Beede come from?

The surname Beede is most commonly found today in the United States. According to the US Census Bureau, in 2020, there were more than 3,500 people with the last name Beede living in the United States.

The majority of the people with this surname live in the Northeast region of the United States, with Maine being the state that has the highest population of people with the surname Beede. More specifically, in Maine, the highest concentration of the Beede surname is found in York County, located in southwestern Maine. Other states with high populations of Beede's include California, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Vermont.

The ancestral home of the Beede family is Germany. The origin of the name Beede comes from the German meaning of "to prepare oneself." Records that trace the origin of the Beede family name date back to the 1400s, when a man named Elias Bede is believed to have lived in the Harz Mountains region of Germany.

It is important to note that the frequency of the Beede name varies significantly across the United States. While a handful of states have a high number of people with the last name Beede, other states have very low numbers. The highest concentration of people with the last name Beede outside of the United States is in Canada.

Variations of the surname Beede

Beede is a surname with a few different variants and spellings, all with the same origin. The surname originated in Southwest England, primarily in Devon and Somerset.

The most common variant is Beed, which many living and historical people with the surname continue to spell it that way today. However, it can also be spelled Bead, Beade, Beadd, and Beedle depending on dialectal spellings.

Variations of the name in other languages, such as lineages in Norway, Germany, and the Netherlands, could also be spelled Beed. The alternate spelling of Beadle is completely different than the American version, Beedle, as well as the mutated variant of Beadd, which can also be spelled Beedle.

In terms of surnames with similar origins, there are very few. One example is Beedham, a variant of the surname which is found mainly in Devon. This may be a variant of the much older name Billing, which originates from the Viking first name ("Bill") and the Old English word for a family or settlement ("ingas").

Overall, the surnames Beede, Beed, and its various spellings all have the same origins and have continued to remain in heavy use in Southwest England. The variants may be different, but all have the same root origin.

Famous people with the name Beede

• Ralph Beede: Actor, known for his roles in the films Red Belt and Lost on the Road to Nowhere.
• David Beede: American professional football player
• Allen Beede: Former NFL offensive lineman
• Wally Beede: Major League Baseball pitcher
• Maud Beede: Early 20th century American stage actress
• Melissa Beede: Canadian film and television actress
• Victoria Beede: American fortune teller, astrologer, and occult teacher
• Frances Beede: American dancer and choreographer
• Francis Beede: Canadian lawyer, journalist, author, and politician
• Peter Beede: American entrepreneur and philanthropist

Other surnames

Beedy