BAYLIS Origin of surname
BAYLIS
Surnames derive from one of many different origins. Sometimes there may be more than one explanation for the same name. This Jewish family name derives from a personal characteristic or nickname. It is also a matronymic (derived from a female ancestor's personal name).
This Jewish family name belongs to the large group of Ashkenazi names coming from Bella, one of whose Yiddish variants is Bayla. Baylis is a matronymic meaning "son of Bayla". The feminine form of "beautiful" in Spanish and Italian, Bella is a translation of the Hebrew Yaffa. Like its French equivalent Belle, it is the source of many personal names, from which several hereditary family names developed. Bella is documented in 1140 in Koeln (Cologne) in Germany whereas the compound Belleassez (in French "quite beautiful") is found some 100 years before in Troyes (France). Bele, Belete and Beleite are recorded in the late 13th century in Paris. Several variants were current in 18th century Alsace, among them Beylin, spelled Beilin in 19th century Russia and England, some of which formed matronymics such as Beilinson in Eastern Europe, just as Baylis derives from the Yiddish Bayla. A distinguished bearer of this name was the founder of the London Old Vic theater and manager of Sadler's Wells, Lilian Mary Baylis (1874-1937).
Surnames derive from one of many different origins. Sometimes there may be more than one explanation for the same name. This Jewish family name derives from a personal characteristic or nickname. It is also a matronymic (derived from a female ancestor's personal name).
This Jewish family name belongs to the large group of Ashkenazi names coming from Bella, one of whose Yiddish variants is Bayla. Baylis is a matronymic meaning "son of Bayla". The feminine form of "beautiful" in Spanish and Italian, Bella is a translation of the Hebrew Yaffa. Like its French equivalent Belle, it is the source of many personal names, from which several hereditary family names developed. Bella is documented in 1140 in Koeln (Cologne) in Germany whereas the compound Belleassez (in French "quite beautiful") is found some 100 years before in Troyes (France). Bele, Belete and Beleite are recorded in the late 13th century in Paris. Several variants were current in 18th century Alsace, among them Beylin, spelled Beilin in 19th century Russia and England, some of which formed matronymics such as Beilinson in Eastern Europe, just as Baylis derives from the Yiddish Bayla. A distinguished bearer of this name was the founder of the London Old Vic theater and manager of Sadler's Wells, Lilian Mary Baylis (1874-1937).