Beggs Surname: Origin, Meaning & Family History

The Meaning Behind Beggs

Beggs is a Scottish and Irish surname derived from the Gaelic 'beag' meaning 'small' or 'little', originally used as a nickname for a person of small stature. It may also derive from an anglicisation of the Scottish Gaelic personal name Beag.

History & Origins of the Beggs Name

The Beggs surname is woven into the fabric of Scottish history. Scotland's clan system created powerful family networks that influenced every aspect of life, from local governance to national politics, and the Beggs name carries that legacy forward.

Historical records trace the Beggs surname to 1511, with the name associated with Ayrshire, Scotland. Parish records, tax rolls, and manorial documents from this period provide evidence of the family's presence and standing in their local communities. The geographic distribution of a surname often reveals important clues about a family's origins and the movements of their ancestors over the centuries.

The Beggs family name appears in the records of the British gentry and peerage, with connections including The Beggs family had notable presence in Ulster plantation lands, with several members serving as landed gentry in Counties Antrim and Down during the 17th and 18th centuries.. While not every branch of a family held titles, the connection to the peerage system demonstrates the family's place within the broader social fabric of British history. Many families moved between the gentry and the titled aristocracy over the centuries, with fortunes rising and falling according to political allegiance, marriage alliances, and economic circumstances.

The Beggs name has been carried by notable figures across a range of fields. Roy Beggs (1936-2018) - Northern Irish Ulster Unionist politician and long-serving Member of Parliament for East Antrim, known as 1936-2018, demonstrated the family name's reach beyond the traditional aristocracy. Roy Beggs Jr. (born 1963) - Northern Irish politician who succeeded his father as Ulster Unionist MLA for East Antrim, born 1963, further illustrates the diverse contributions of those bearing this surname. These individuals represent just a fraction of the Beggs legacy that continues to unfold.

Coat of Arms

Coats of arms were granted to specific individuals and their descendants, not to everyone sharing a surname. If you believe you may be entitled to bear the Beggs arms, the College of Arms can help verify your lineage. Learn more in our guide: How Do I Find My Family Crest?

Noble Connections

This surname has connections to the gentry and titled families throughout history.

• The Beggs family had notable presence in Ulster plantation lands, with several members serving as landed gentry in Counties Antrim and Down during the 17th and 18th centuries.

Historical peerage documents reference the Beggs family, demonstrating their place within the broader framework of British nobility and social hierarchy. To understand where these titles sit in the hierarchy, see our interactive peerage hierarchy chart.

Notable Beggss in History

Related Surnames

These surnames share a similar Scottish origin and may have historical connections to the Beggs family.

Explore Scotland Lordship Cities

Discover the lordship history of cities connected to the Beggs family's Scottish heritage.