Belay History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Scotland

The annals of Scottish history reveal that Belay was first used as a name by descendants of the Pictish tribe of ancient Scotland. The Belay family lived in Bellie, in Morayshire. The name is a topographic or local surname, which was given to a family who held a barony or lands, had houses, manors or estates in that area. Some think that the name is derived from the occupational name of bailie, but our records cannot confirm that claim. Indeed much of the early records list many of the family in other occupations.

Early Origins of the Belay family

The surname Belay was first found in Moray, where they held a family seat from very early times.

Early History of the Belay family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Belay research. Another 136 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1598, 1643, 1648, 1650 and 1743 are included under the topic Early Belay History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Belay Spelling Variations

During the Middle Ages, there was no basic set of rules and scribes wrote according to sound. The correct spelling of Scottish names were further compromised after many haphazard translations from Gaelic to English and back. Spelling variations of the name Belay include Bellie, Belley, Bealie, Beeley, Belley, Bely, Beayly, Beyley, Beilley, Bealy, Bellye, Belly and many more.

Early Notables of the Belay family

Another 49 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Belay Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Belay migration to the United States +

Scots left their country by the thousands to travel to Australia and North America. Desperate for freedom and an opportunity to fend for themselves, many paid huge fees and suffered under terrible conditions on long voyages. Still, for those who made the trip, freedom and opportunity awaited. In North America, many fought their old English oppressors in the American War of Independence. In recent years, Scottish heritage has been an increasingly important topic, as Clan societies and other organizations have renewed people's interest in their history. An examination of passenger and immigration lists shows many early settlers bearing the name of Belay:

Belay Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Jer Belay, who landed in Virginia in 1695 1

Belay migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Belay Settlers in Canada in the 17th Century

Julien Belay, who landed in Montreal in 1659

Contemporary Notables of the name Belay (post 1700) +

Martin Belay (b. 1991), Czech professional ice hockey player
Yehunie Belay (b. 1961), Ethiopian singer, musical writer and entrepreneur

The Belay Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Per acuta Belli
Motto Translation: Through the asperities of war.

Citations +

Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)