Surname Bellasis - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'B'
Bellasis: What does the surname Bellasis mean?
The surname Bellasis originates from Europe, predominantly from England and Italy. This name is believed to be of Norman origin, coming from "bel or beau" meaning "fair, beautiful" and "assis or sis" denoting a person who is seated or dwelling. Thus, Bellasis could be interpreted as "beautiful dwelling". The ancestors of the Bellasis family lived in Lancashire, in northern England. Many surnames were derived from the names of ancestral residences; in this case, the Bellasis family seems to have lived in a beautiful residence or locality. Furthermore, the variations of this name, found under several spellings such as Belasyse, Belassis, Bellasys, and others, may hint towards Norman-French roots. Note, family names have evolved over centuries and their meanings or origins might have several interpretations based on different historical parameters or cultural contexts.
Order DNA origin analysisBellasis: Where does the name Bellasis come from?
The surname Bellasis originates from France, specifically from a place named Belle Assise near Chantilly. The name made its initial appearance in England after the Norman Conquest in 1066, when William de Blosseville, a Norman knight owning land in Belle Assise, came to England with William the Conqueror and became known as de Belle Assise or de Bellasis.
Today, this surname is not common globally and tends to be rare even in its country of origin. However, it can most likely be found in England, which shares a long history with the Bellasis family, particularly in British nobility and legal circles during the 17th and 19th centuries. Notable figures with this surname include Edward Bellasis, a famed English lawyer, and George Bellasis, an accomplished British soldier and statesman. Notwithstanding, it is important to note that the distribution of the Bellasis surname may have varied since the last official recording due to migration and transnational marriages. Despite its rich history, the Bellasis surname continues to be infrequent today.
Variations of the surname Bellasis
The surname Bellasis originated from the Norman period in England, after the Norman Conquest in the 11th century. It is a locational surname, from Belle Assise in France, translating to "beautifully situated".
Some spellings and variations for Bellasis include Bellasys, Bellasyse, Belassis, Bellasise, Bellas, and Bellis. The change and variety in the spelling of this surname were mostly influenced by the evolution of languages and the movement of people over time, and it is typical for a single surname to be altered into numerous spellings.
The surnames Belasyse and Belasis can also be considered variants of the same origin. These are further examples of surnames that have been developed to accommodate the phonetic and spelling variations of Bellasis.
Belasyse is an aristocratic title in the United Kingdom. John Belasyse, 1st Baron Belasyse was a nobleman during the 17th century in England, indicating the relevance of this surname variant.
It should be noted that while these variations exist, the original and most common form remains Bellasis.
Famous people with the name Bellasis
- Sir George Bellasis: He was an English barrister and politician who held the title 'Serjeant-at-law', a prestigious legal position in Victorian England.
- Richard Bellasis: He was a British Special Operations Executive officer during World War II. After the war, he pursued a career in writing.
- Edward Bellasis: He was a prominent British convert to Roman Catholicism in the 19th century. He is also known for his writings on religion and the law.
- George Hutchins Bellasis: One of the early settlers in Mumbai (then Bombay), India, he became a celebrated watercolor artist known for his Dickens-style caricatures.
- Lieutenant-Colonel John Bellasis: He was involved in some significant military events in India during the British Raj.
- Richard Louis Bellasis: He is a British actor known for his roles in film, theater, and television shows in the 2000s.
- Carol Bellasis: She was an English novelist and playwright who wrote under the pseudonym Charlotte Elizabeth Lawson. While Bellasis may not be a common surname, these individuals have made significant contributions in their respective fields.