Find out how popular the last name Bellish is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Bellish.

Bellish, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Bellish surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Bellish in America

Bellish is the 129825th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Bellish surname appeared 131 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Bellish.

We can also compare 2010 data for Bellish to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Bellish

The surname Bellish has its origins in England, dating back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "bellan," which means "to bellow" or "to roar." This suggests that the name may have been initially given as a nickname to someone with a loud voice or a booming laugh.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Bellish can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire, dating back to 1379. These rolls were records of financial transactions made by the English Exchequer, and the presence of the name Bellish suggests that individuals bearing this surname were already established in the region at that time.

In the 15th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as Bellysh, Bellyshe, and Belliche, reflecting the fluid nature of spelling during that era. These variations can be found in the Court Rolls of Bury St. Edmunds, a collection of legal records from the abbey and town of Bury St. Edmunds in Suffolk.

One notable bearer of the Bellish surname was John Bellish, born in 1562 in Nottinghamshire. He was a renowned scholar and author, known for his work on English grammar and literature. His seminal work, "A Treatise on the English Tongue," published in 1589, is considered one of the earliest comprehensive studies of the English language.

Another prominent figure was Elizabeth Bellish, born in 1624 in Yorkshire. She was a prominent landowner and philanthropist, known for her generous donations to local churches and charities. Her name can be found in various land registry records from the 17th century.

In the 18th century, the Bellish surname appeared in the parish records of St. Mary's Church in Nottingham, with the baptism of William Bellish recorded in 1712. This suggests that the name had become well-established in the Midlands region of England by this time.

One of the most notable bearers of the Bellish surname was Sir Thomas Bellish, born in 1768 in Derbyshire. He was a renowned military officer who served in the British Army during the Napoleonic Wars. His exploits on the battlefield earned him the prestigious Order of the Bath in 1815.

As the centuries progressed, the Bellish surname spread beyond England to other parts of the British Isles and eventually to other parts of the world, carried by emigrant families seeking new opportunities. However, its roots can be traced back to the Middle Ages in England, where it likely originated as a descriptive nickname for an individual with a booming voice or loud laughter.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Bellish

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Bellish.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Bellish was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Bellish has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Bellish was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Bellish, please contact us.

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