Beigh History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Etymology of Beigh

What does the name Beigh mean?

Beigh is a name of Anglo-Saxon origin. It was a name given to a short person. The surname Beigh is derived from the Old English words bas and basse, meaning low or short. These words ultimately stem from the Latin word bassus which means thick or heavy-set. The surname Beigh may also be a nickname for someone resembling a fish, or it may be a metonymic name for someone holding the occupation of fishmonger.

Early Origins of the Beigh family

The surname Beigh was first found in Lincolnshire, where they held a family seat from ancient times.

Early History of the Beigh family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Beigh research. Another 165 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1273, 1379, 1500 and 1579 are included under the topic Early Beigh History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Beigh Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years, the English language had no fast system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations are commonly found in early Anglo-Saxon surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Beigh were recorded, including Bays, Base, Bayse, Baise and others.

Early Notables of the Beigh family

More information is included under the topic Early Beigh Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Beigh migration to the United States +

To escape oppression and starvation at that time, many English families left for the "open frontiers" of the New World with all its perceived opportunities. In droves people migrated to the many British colonies, those in North America in particular, paying high rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Although many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, those who did see the shores of North America perceived great opportunities before them. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Research into various historical records revealed some of first members of the Beigh family emigrate to North America:

Beigh Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Mrs. Beigh, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1850 1

Sources +

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)