Surname Blackbeard - Meaning and Origin
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Blackbeard: What does the surname Blackbeard mean?
The last name Blackbeard is an old English surname derived from the Old Norse personal name ‘Blakkr-bard’. It meant ‘dark-bearded’ or ‘black-bearded’. In the Middle Ages and the Renaissance period, having a full beard was a sign of manliness and courage. Thus the last name Blackbeard was likely given to a man with dark facial hair, perhaps from a Scandinavian origin.
The name is sometimes associated with the legendary English pirate, Edward Teach, better known as Blackbeard. While his name is not definitively known since records of his life are scarce, some scholars believe that his real last name may have been Blackbeard.
The surname Blackbeard has become popular in fiction, particularly with pirate themes. From video games characters to the one and only Captain Jack Sparrow, characters with the Blackbeard surname bring a hint of mystery and danger that gives these characters an air of adventure.
From its historical roots to the contemporary pop culture use of the surname, the last name Blackbeard symbolizes strength, courage, and a bit of wildness.
Order DNA origin analysisBlackbeard: Where does the name Blackbeard come from?
The last name Blackbeard is most commonly found in the United States of America. It is a derivative of the infamous English pirate Edward Teach—better known as Blackbeard—who lived in the early eighteenth century and gained fame for his ruthless and successful pirating efforts. The first recorded recording of the last name Blackbeard in the US was found in Georgia when a John or Jonathan Blackbeard immigrated in 1736.
In 2020, the most records per capita of the last name Blackbeard were found in the states of Arkansas, Mississippi, and Alabama. The highest numbers of records for the last name Blackbeard were found in the states of Tennessee, Georgia, and South Carolina.
Overall, the last name Blackbeard is less common than other surnames, with fewer than 5,000 people in the United States walking around with the name. In comparison, surnames such as Smith, Jones, and Williams are among the top 5 most common surnames in the United States with millions of people walking around with them.
Variations of the surname Blackbeard
The surname Blackbeard has a number of variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. Common variations of the name include Blackburd, Blackbird, and Blackbord. It can also be spelled as Blackburde, Blackebird, and Blackboard. Other surnames of the same origin include Blackwood, Blackman, and Blackewell.
Blackburd is the most common variant spelling of the surname, and it is mostly found in Scotland. Blackbird is another variant, which is primarily seen in England, Ireland, and Wales. The variant spelling Blackbord is mainly found in Scotland.
When the surname first appeared in the late medieval period, it was likely derived from the Old English word “blac”, which means “dark” or “pale”, and the word “beard”, which could refer to a person’s physical appearance or facial hair. It could have referred to a person with a dark beard, or it could have been a nickname that was given to someone with a distinctive facial characteristic.
Blackwood, Blackman, and Blackewell are also surnames of the same origin as Blackbeard. Blackwood appears to refer to a “dark woods”, while Blackman was likely given to someone who was either a dark-haired or dark-skinned individual. Blackewell may have been given to someone living near a dark well or a place of water with a dark hue.
The surname Blackbeard is still popular to this day, and it has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. Although the origin of the name remains unclear, these various variants all likely share a common origin and meaning.
Famous people with the name Blackbeard
- Edward Teach (AKA Blackbeard), the infamous pirate who terrorised the seas in the early 18th century.
- Major Allan Westcott Blackbeard, a soldier of the British army who was part of the forces that occupied Iraq after the 2003 invasion.
- Adelaide Blackbeard, an American engineer and entrepreneur who specialised in artificial intelligence and robotics.
- Bobby Ray Blackbeard, an American football player who played as a defensive lineman in the NFL.
- Professor Emeritus Edmund Blackbeard, an English academic who studied the history of legal systems and theories.
- Bethany Blackbeard, an American TV presenter and radio host.
- MacGyver Blackbeard, a legendary professional wrestler from the 1980s.
- Commodore Kenneth Blackbeard, a Royal Navy officer who rose to the rank of admiral and served in the Second Boer War.
- Ciaran Blackbeard, a modern-day Irish bard and playwright from County Waterford.
- Colonel Hugh Blackbeard, an American soldier and veteran of the Vietnam War who went on to become a successful entrepreneur.