BEASLEY
The surname Beasley is of English origin and is derived from a place name in the British Isles. It is a locational surname that first appears in the mid-13th century, with the earliest documented spelling Thomas de Besleg recorded in 1246 in the Assize Court Rolls of Lancashire during the reign of King Henry III.
Its etymology can be traced to the Old English words beo and leah, the former meaning bee and the latter meaning clearing or meadow. Consequently, the surname has often been interpreted as the clearing or meadow where bees are found. An alternative derivation from the pre‑7th century word beos, meaning bent grass, combined with leah, has also been suggested, linking the name to the location of Beesley in Lancashire.
Over the centuries the spelling of the name has varied. Common variants include Beesley, Beazleigh, Beazley, Beisley and Bezley. The surname is now widespread in the West Midlands and elsewhere in England, in addition to its strong concentration in Lancashire.
Church records provide further evidence of the name’s persistence. In 1561 Gracia Beesley married William Wackfield in Standish, Lancashire; in 1598 Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Beesley, was christened at St. Giles, Cripplegate, London; and in 1644 William, son of Richard Beasley, was christened at St. Olave, Southwark, London.
A coat of arms was granted to Thomas Beasley, Esq., of Dublin, in 1820. The shield is divided per pale silver and red, with a chevron between three roundles each bearing a trefoil slipped. The crest features a demi‑leopard in natural colour holding a plate with a green trefoil slipped. The motto, Labor omnia vincit, translates as Perseverance overcomes all difficulties.
Typical given names associated with the Beasley surname
Male
- Andrew
- Christopher
- David
- James
- John
- Mark
- Michael
- Paul
- Peter
- Robert
Female
- Alison
- Christine
- Elizabeth
- Emma
- Helen
- Joanne
- Karen
- Margaret
- Mary
- Nicola
- Patricia
- Sarah
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
- Baciley
- Bagsley
- Baisley
- Baisly
- Baizley
- Baseley
- Basely
- Bashley
- Basl
- Basley
- Basli
- Basly
- Bassley
- Baysley
- Bazeley
- Bazley
- Bazly
- Beaizley
- Beaseley
- Beasely
- Beasle
- Beasleigh
- Beasly
- Beazeley
- Beazely
- Beazlay
- Beazley
- Beazly
- Beeseley
- Beesely
- Beeslee
- Beesley
- Beesly
- Beezley
- Beezly
- Beishley
- Beisley
- Beisly
- Beizley
- Beizsley
- Beseley
- Besely
- Beslee
- Besley
- Besli
- Beslie
- Besliu
- Besly
- Bessley
- Beusley
- Bewsley
- Bezeley
- Bezley
- Biesley
- Biseley
- Bisley
- Bissley
- Boasley
- Boisley
- Boseley
- Bosley
- Byesley
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Beasley in...
Braille
⠃⠑⠁⠎⠇⠑⠽
Morse
-.....-....-...-.--
Semaphore
There are approximately 8,156 people named Beasley in the UK. That makes it roughly the 1,157th most common surname in Britain. Around 125 in a million people in Britain are named Beasley.
Surname type: Location or geographical feature
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Famous people named Beasley
- William G. Beasley - Academic, author, Japanologist (1919 to 2006)
- Pat Beasley - Football player and manager (1913 to 1986)
- Andy Beasley - Football player; coach
- Henry Beasley - Army officer and bridge player (1876 to 1949)
- Eileen Beasley - Welsh-language activist (1921 to 2012)
- Robert Beasley - Cricketer (1882 to 1966)
- Joy Beasley - Swimmer
- Hillson Beasley - Australian architect (1855 to 1936)
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.