Explore the Family Name Bellamy
The meaning of Bellamy
English (of Norman origin) and French: literal or ironic nickname meaning ‘fair friend’, from French beau ‘fair, handsome’ (bel before a vowel) + ami ‘friend’.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Bellamy in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname Bellamy indicated an increase in popularity between 2000 and 2010. Specifically, it rose from a rank of 2,101 in 2000 to 2,108 in 2010, despite a slight decrease in popularity by 0.33%. The actual count of individuals with this surname increased by 8.31%, escalating from 15,850 in 2000 to 17,167 in 2010. However, the proportion per 100,000 people slightly decreased by 1.02%, moving from 5.88 in 2000 to 5.82 in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #2,101 | #2,108 | -0.33% |
| Count | 15,850 | 17,167 | 8.31% |
| Proportion per 100k | 5.88 | 5.82 | -1.02% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Bellamy
Ethnic identity associated with the surname Bellamy also showed some changes between 2000 and 2010, according to the Decennial U.S. Census data. There was no change in those who identified as Asian/Pacific Islander, holding steady at 0.37%. Individuals identifying with two or more ethnicities saw the largest increase, rising by 43.35% to 2.48% in 2010. Whites with the Bellamy surname decreased by 7.04% to 40.40% in 2010, while Hispanic representation observed the greatest growth at 58.97%, reaching 2.48% in 2010. Black representation increased slightly by 2.61%, making up 53.89% of all Bellamys in 2010. Lastly, American Indian and Alaskan Native representation also grew modestly by 8.57%, accounting for 0.38% of the total in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 52.52% | 53.89% | 2.61% |
| White | 43.46% | 40.4% | -7.04% |
| Two or More Races | 1.73% | 2.48% | 43.35% |
| Hispanic | 1.56% | 2.48% | 58.97% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.35% | 0.38% | 8.57% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.37% | 0.37% | 0% |
Bellamy ancestry composition
23andMe computes an ancestry breakdown for each customer. People may have ancestry from just one population or they may have ancestry from several populations. The most commonly-observed ancestry found in people with the surname Bellamy is British & Irish, which comprises 48.9% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are French & German (17.6%) and Nigerian (8.1%). Additional ancestries include Ghanaian, Liberian & Sierra Leonean, Angolan & Congolese, Eastern European, Spanish & Portuguese, and Scandinavian.
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| ANCESTRY BREAKDOWN | COMPOSITION |
|---|---|
| British & Irish | 48.9% |
| French & German | 17.6% |
| Nigerian | 8.1% |
| Other | 25.5% |
Possible origins of the surname Bellamy
Your DNA provides clues about where your recent ancestors may have lived. Having many distant relatives in the same location suggests that you may all share common ancestry there. Locations with many distant relatives can also be places where people have migrated recently, such as large cities. If a large number of individuals who share your surname have distant relatives in a specific area, it could indicate a connection between your surname and that location, stemming from either recent ancestral ties or migration.
Based on 23andMe data, people with last name Bellamy have recent ancestry locations all within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
| RECENT ANCESTRY Location | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Greater Manchester, United Kingdom | 74.70% |
| Greater London, United Kingdom | 74.70% |
| Merseyside, United Kingdom | 74.40% |
| West Midlands, United Kingdom | 74.00% |
| Glasgow City, United Kingdom | 74.00% |
What Bellamy haplogroups can tell you
Haplogroups are genetic population groups that share a common ancestor on either your paternal or maternal line. These paternal and maternal haplogroups shed light on your genetic ancestry and help tell the story of your family.
The top paternal haplogroup of people with the surname Bellamy is R-P311, which is predominantly found among people with European ancestry. Haplogroup R-P311 is descended from haplogroup R-M343. Other common haplogroups include I-Z58 and E-M4254, which are predominantly found among people with European and Sub-Saharan African ancestry. Other surnames with similar common haplogroups are: Gaines, Norwood, Boston, Wynn, Crosby, O'Neal, Sexton, Powell, Armstrong, Coley.
The most common maternal haplogroups of people with Bellamy surname are: H1, J1c, H. These most commonly trace back to individuals of European ancestry.
Paternal Haplogroup Origins R-M343Your maternal lineage may be linked to Marie Antoinette
Because it is so dominant in the general European population, haplogroup H also appears quite frequently in the continent's royal houses. Marie Antoinette, an Austrian Hapsburg who married into the French royal family, inherited the haplogroup from her maternal ancestors. So did Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, whose recorded genealogy traces his female line to Bavaria. Scientists also discovered that famed 16th century astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus traced his maternal lineages to haplogroup H.
What do people with the surname Bellamy have in common?
Spoiler alert: it's complicated. People with the same last name are usually no more genetically similar than a randomly sampled group of people from the same population. That said, people with the same surname are more likely to have similar ancestries than randomly sampled individuals. The reason is the tendency of people with similar cultural or geographical backgrounds to preferentially mate with one another. That's why people who share a surname may be more likely to share traits and tendencies in common than people within the general population. Check out the percentages below to see the prevalences of tastes, habits, and traits of people with your surname compared with prevalences among 23andMe users.
Preferences
Chocolate Ice Cream
Prefers chocolate flavored ice cream over other flavors.
"Bellamy" Surname 44.4%
23andMe Users 41.3%
Traits
Misophonia
When sounds made by others, like the sound of chewing or yawning, provoke strong emotional reactions in an individual.
"Bellamy" Surname 34.8%
23andMe Users 27.9%
Habits
Sugary Drink
Drinks one or more sugary drinks per day.
"Bellamy" Surname 20.4%
23andMe Users 21.1%
Wellness
Migraine
A severe headache characterized by intense pain, sensitivity to light and sound, and often accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
"Bellamy" Surname 14.9%
23andMe Users 16.4%
Are health conditions linked to the last name Bellamy?
The short answer is that, if there is an association between surname and health, it's usually more about your ancestry than your name. Individuals with a given surname are no more genetically similar than the general population but often have similar ancestries. The populations of people associated with those shared ancestries often have sets of genetic variations, also known as alleles, in common. Some of those alleles are associated with a greater likelihood of developing certain diseases.
Disease variant frequency by ancestry
Disease allele frequencies in populations associated with the surname Bellamy are shown below. Important Note: not everyone with a disease allele will develop these health condition