Meaning and origin
The last name Beatty has its origins in Scotland and Ireland. It is derived from the Gaelic personal name "Beathán," meaning "little beag," or "son of Beattie," which is a diminutive form of "beag" and is related to the Old Norse "bekkr," meaning "stream" or "brook." The name Beatty was typically given to those who lived near a small stream or brook, reflecting a geographical significance. As an occupational surname, Beatty could also refer to individuals who worked as boatmen or navigators. Over time, the name Beatty has evolved and spread throughout the English-speaking world, particularly in countries like the United States, Canada, and Australia, due to migration and cultural interchange.
Surname origins are rarely settled: one spelling can have several sources, and families often took a name for reasons nobody wrote down. Check it against the sources below before you rely on it.
#1,389
Beatty was the 1,389th most common surname in the 2010 US Census, with 25,510 people, about 8.3 in every 100,000.
Who carries it
Surnames like Beatty
Names it is linked with, then names with the same origin and a similar standing.
Check the sources
- Forebears: where Beatty is found around the world
- The Internet Surname Database: a second opinion on the origin
- US Census Bureau: the 2010 surname figures used here
For a name you are serious about, compare the dictionaries: Reaney and Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames; Hanks, Dictionary of American Family Names.