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Wordwise: A 'B'-hive of French surnames

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Here today, the recent exploration of French-based surnames continues with consideration of some starting with the letter “B.”

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  1. Baudoin and Baudry – both of medieval prominence in northern France (from Flanders to Normandy) derived from Germanic forms “Baldwin” and “Baldry,” their common first element meaning “brave/bold” combined respectively with “friend” (win) and “leader” (ric).
  2. Beamish – from original Norman French related terms “Beaumais” and “Beaumetz” meaning “pretty place” (as a homestead setting).
  3. Beau/Belle – occurring simply as “Lebeau” and “Labelle” respectively for “handsome” and “lovely.”
  4. Beau and Belle – in combinations a. Beauchamp (attractive field), adapted in Britain as Beecham; b. Beauclair/Beauclerc – originally a scribe (clerk) with either an attractive appearance or a handwriting style; c. Beaufort/Belfort – from an attractive and safe (fortified) residence; and, d. Beaulieu/ Beaumarchais/Beaumont (also Belmont) pretty place/marsh/hill (the preceding first one here adapted in English as Bewley and Belloc).
  5. Beauregard – either for someone’s being from a place with a pleasant view or having a fair appearance.
  6. Beauvoir – also for a place with a view and having variations as Belvoir, Belvedere, Beauvais, and Beaver in English and Bieber in German.
  7. Beaufils – originally for “handsome son” (not linked to modern French for “son-in-law”), with adaptations in English as “Beavis” and “Bovis.”
  8. Bell(e) combinations a. Belami – “fine friend” with variation “Bellamy;” b. Bellay – “from near a birch tree forest” with variations “Boulle” and “Boulay;” and, c. Bellefeuille – “from near trees with attractive leaves” as traditionally associated with the red oak tree.
  9. Boulanger – “Baker” as applied to a person who divided a batch of dough into rounded loaf forms (boules) before their being cooked.
  10. Bourbon (Bourbonnais) – a term of Celtic basis referring to the natural phenomenon of underground-sourced hot springs with an outflowing surface stream, one being of such significance in central France that it formed in the early 900s the basis of an estate claim for a castle site by a family which would establish a royal dynasty to include most notably Louis XIV (1638-1715) and Louis XVI (1754-1793 – following the French Revolution).

The Bourbons’ ancestral site had been previously (400s C.E.) in the territory of the Scandinavian-sourced Burgundii (“tall ones”), whose tribal name was applied to that region, its thus becoming known as Burgundy (“Bourgogne” in French), now famously associated with its red wine made from the pinot noir grape variety.

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