Surname Beslin - Meaning and Origin
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Beslin: What does the surname Beslin mean?
The surname Beslin is of Anglo-Saxon origin, derived from the Old English name Bosa, meaning “Shapeshifter.” It could also be derived from the Old English words Besla and Beosla, meaning “Wise one.” The Beslin family name is generally associated with the settlement of a specific area of England. During the Middle Ages, people often took on the name of the village or parish in which they lived. The Beslin family trace their roots back to the area of Collingham, located in the county of Nottinghamshire. It is possible the family took on the surname of Beslin because of the townsfolk's belief in shape-shifting.
The Beslin family have many distinguished members throughout history, including scientists, authors, and musicians. One well-known member of the family, Joseph Beslin, was an early pioneer in the field of hydraulic engineering. Also another member, Robert Beslin, is a noted art historian and an admired public speaker. He has written several books about the history of various art forms and has been published internationally.
The Beslin family also has some colorful stories to tell. Two Beslin brothers immigrated to the United States in the late 1800s, and were eventually arrested and sent to the infamous Texas prison for many years. Despite their trials and tribulations, they remained a close-knit family and were eventually reunited when one of them fully rehabilitated.
Overall, the surname Beslin has a long and fascinating history associated with not only the brave individuals in the family, but also the many accomplishments that they have achieved over the years.
Order DNA origin analysisBeslin: Where does the name Beslin come from?
The surname Beslin is most common in Ireland, where records indicate that the name has been found since at least the 1600s. It is believed to be an anglicized version of the Irish surname Béaslaí, which means 'of the Helmet'.
In the United States, Beslin is an incredibly rare surname, with no records indicating that the name has ever been in widespread use. In fact, there are fewer than 50 individuals in the United States listed with the surname Beslin in the 2020 US Census.
In other parts of the world, Beslin is found most frequently in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. The name is relatively uncommon for these areas as well, with fewer than 500 individuals listed in the 2020 UK Census and approximately 1000 Canadians listed with the surname.
Though the origin of the Beslin surname is uncertain, it is clear that the name is not popular in the modern world. There are only a few hundred people around the world who are known to be living with the family name of Beslin.
Variations of the surname Beslin
The surname Beslin is of Irish origin, and the various variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin include:
Besland, Bessland, Besslin, Bessling, Beslyn, Besslyn, Besseling, Beisler, Biesler, Byasland, Byaslin, Byesland, and Byeslin.
Beslin is an Anglicized form of the Gaelic name Ó Beiselín, derived from the Gaelic personal name Beisel, which is a diminutive of beansal, meaning ‘bank’ or ‘cliff-face’. These are common descriptors of physical features in Irish place names, and thus the surname may be tied to such a location.
The Beslin surname is particularly concentrated in the County Galway area of Ireland; the 1851 Census of Ireland listed 45 individuals named Beslin living there. The Beslin surname is also found in Ireland’s neighbor to the east, the United Kingdom. Here, the spelling is frequently Anglicized to Besseling, as in the case of Dorothy Besseling, a resident of Wandsworth, England, who was mentioned in the London Gazette in 1827.
In addition, there are many immigrants who carry the Beslin surname living in the United States and Canada, where the surname is most commonly spelled Bessling. Immigrants from Ireland have been arriving in the U.S. since colonial times, and some of those immigrants were the Beslin’s of Ireland. The 1890 U.S. Federal Census identified 128 individuals named Bessling living in the country.
No matter the variant or spelling, the Beslin surname is an interesting story that points to the heritage of an Irish family.
Famous people with the name Beslin
- Martin Beslin: Swedish professional golfer
- Paul Beslin: American actor
- Terence Beslin: Irish former professional football (soccer) player
- Ryan Beslin: American actor
- Garrick Beslin: Canadian drum set player
- Christel Beslin: French physicist
- James Beslin: American entrepreneur
- Julia Beslin: American fashion designer
- Eric Beslin: American professor in educational leadership
- Miguel Beslin: Venezuelan conductor