Name of the Week

 

Saintly and literary, but with a super-star edge.

 

Origin:

There are several possible sources for Beckett's use as a surname.  1) As a local surname the name is taken from two place names in England. Beckett in Berkshire (Becote, Buccot, Bockote) is taken from the Old English beo "bee" and cot "cottage, house, shelter." Beckett in Devonshire derives from the Old English "Beocca's house." Beocca most likely derives from beort "bright, famous" and in found in several other place names including Beckford "Boecca's ford," Beckham "Beocca's village" and Beckley "Beocca's clearing." 2) One other likely source is that it is a dimunutive of the Old French bec "beak." Suetonius writes how Antonius Primus was given the nickname Becca, due to his prominant nose. 3) It may also be derived from place names (such as Bec in France) containing the Old Norse element bekkr "stream."

Usage:

Beckett was a popular surname in the 12th and 13th centuries in the form Beket.  Between 1840 and 1900 68 children were given the name Beckett. Most exclusively male. In 2010 the name ranked #4678 with 3 births in England and Wales. The shorter form Beck had 9 births. The name was given to 4 boys in 2009 and 9  in 2008.

Famous Bearers:

* St Thomas Becket (was Archbishop of Canterbury from 1162 - 1170 and an important political figure. He became a very popular saint in the Middle Ages after his death.  * Samuel Beckett (1906-1989) was an influential, Nobel prize winning, Irish author and poet.  Several celebrities have chosen the name Beckett in recent years, including: * Beckett Robert Lee (b. 2008) son of Stella McCartney * Beckett Taylor (b. 2004) son of Malcolm McDowell * Beckett (b. 2005) son of Conan O'Brien

Variants:

Becket, Beckitt

Pronunciation:

BEK-ət (UK) [key]

Possible Diminutives:

Beck, Keb

Sibling Names:

Willa     Esme     Calla     Harper     Bryony     Audra  Owen    Roman     Miles     August     Dylan    Lorcan

 

If you like Beckett you may also like:   Archer, Lennon, Miller, Quinn, Maxwell, Ellis, Fletcher, Gregor, Fraser, Finnan