34,363 Global BELLAMY Family Members

BELLAMY Family History

This interesting surname is of Irish (Norman) and French origin, and is from a nickname for a fine friend, derived from the Old French "beu, bel", fair, handsome, from the Latin "bellus" and "ami", friend, itself from the Latin "amicus". The nickname could have been either literal or ironic. This is an example of that sizeable group of early European surnames that were gradually created from the habitual use of nicknames. The nicknames were given in the first instance with reference to occupation, or to a variety of characteristics, such as physical attributes or peculiarities, mental and moral characteristics, supposed resemblance to an animal or bird's appearance or disposition, and to habits of dress.