Surname Belasco - Meaning and Origin
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Belasco: What does the surname Belasco mean?
The last name Belasco is derived from a Basque place name beginning with “Belen” and ending in “go”, meaning “little place” or “surrounded by high ground”. It is a toponymic name, meaning the surname was taken from a geographic location. The name is most often associated with Basque people, but is also found in other countries in Europe and parts of North America.
Belascos can trace their ancestry back to the 12th century when King Sancho the Great of Navarre, Spain, gave personal attention to Basque sailors. It is believed he also gave land rights to a group of Basques from a village near Zarautz, called Belengo. It was in Zarautz where Belasco's get their origins from.
The Belasco name has a long legacy within the Basque people. An example of this is General Sabatay Belasco, a commander of the Army of Navarre during the 16th-century War of the Armagnacs and Burgundians. Through the generations, many Belascos have earned distinction in the fields of politics, education, science, medicine, and the military.
Today, people with the last name Belasco descend from a long line of Basque people with an illustrious history. Belasco's have achieved notoriety for being hardworking, ambitious and loyal, traits that date back to the Basque region.
The last name Belasco is a toponymic name, derived from a Basque place name beginning with “Belen” and ending in “go”, meaning “little place” or “surrounded by high ground”. It is associated with the 12th century when King Sancho the Great of Navarre, Spain, gave land rights to a group of Basques from a village near Zarautz, called Belengo. With the roots of Basque people, many Belascos throughout the generations have earned distinction in the fields of politics, education, science, medicine, and the military. To this day, people of the Belasco name carry the traits of hardworking, ambition and loyalty.
Order DNA origin analysisBelasco: Where does the name Belasco come from?
The last name Belasco is mostly found in countries with large Jewish populations, such as Israel, USA, and in some parts of Europe. The name originated in the 17th century in Spain and is believed to be derived from the surname Belascu, found mainly in Iberian-Jewish cultures.
The Jewish surname Belasco is thought to have been derived from the Spanish or Portuguese words bellaso, meaning 'beautiful one', and, although the exact origin of the name is unclear, it is most often found among Jewish communities. It is generally accepted that the surname derived either directly from Jewish immigrants in Spain or Portugal, or perhaps that a Sephardic family possibly had adopted it when expelled from Iberian Peninsula during the Spanish Inquisition.
The last name Belasco is not particularly common in countries outside those with large Jewish populations. However, it is more frequent in areas with large Jewish populations in Latin America such as Venezuela, Cuba, Colombia, and Mexico.
In the United States, the name Belasco is most predominant in the state of New York, where it is estimated that over half of all Belascos are living. The surname is particularly concentrated in the New York City metropolitan area, particularly in the boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens. It is also found in large numbers in California, Florida, and Illinois, as well as in other areas of the country with denser Jewish populations.
Variations of the surname Belasco
The surname Belasco is an Italian surname, originating from the location Bellaso, in Piedmont, Italy. Variations in spelling include Belascio, Belascoa, Beulasio, Belsaco, Belsasco, Beulasco, and Bilasco. The surname is common throughout the Italian regions and Europe, as well as in the United States and Latin America.
In Italy, the Belasco surname has been found to have a few specific variants, such as Bellascó, Bellascone, Belaschi, Belsasi, and Bilasco. The variants Bellascone and Belsasi are found in northern Italy, while Bellascó and Belaschi appear in southern Italy.
In Spain, the Belasco surname is usually spelled as Belsanco or Belsaco. It is found in Catalonia, Asturias, Galicia, and other parts of northern Spain.
In the United States, Belasco is typically spelled with a single “l,” though some members of the Belasco family have taken on an Americanized spelling, such as Bizelasco, Belasko, Belsac, or Belzaco. Belasco is also found in Latin American countries, where it is usually spelled with a “z” as Belzaco.
In the United Kingdom, Belasco appears in some census records, though it is most common in Ireland. Variants commonly found in Ireland include Belasko, Belascone, and Belascoa.
In conclusion, the surname Belasco is found in many countries and regions throughout the world. It has a variety of spellings and can be found in both Italian and Latin American regions, as well as in the United States, United Kingdom, and Ireland.
Famous people with the name Belasco
- David Belasco (1853-1931), American theatrical producer and director.
- Albert Belasco (1879-1943), Broadway producer and director.
- Philip Belasco (1869-1947), American real estate developer and philanthropist.
- David Belasco de Mann (1890-1965), American theatrical producer and director.
- William Belasco (1872-1956), American theatrical producer and director.
- Jerome Belasco (1898–1970), American theatrical producer.
- John Belasco (1918-2006), American television director.
- Raymond Belasco (1922-2012), American television director.
- Arnold Belasco (1925-2010), American television producer and director.
- Mercedes Belasco (1927-2006), Mexican painter and muralist.
- Yaakov Belasco (1927-1995), Israeli politician and former Minister of Foreign Affairs.
- Renee Belasco (b. 1968), American artist and interior designer.
- Maite Belasco (b. 1973), Mexican theater actress and film director.
- Fanny Belasco (b. 1983), Argentine writer, journalist, and documentary filmmaker.
- Ricardo Belasco (b. 1989), Uruguayan professional footballer.
- Samara Belasco (b. 1991), Canadian singer and songwriter.