Maisie, You may have got the answer already as I wasn't following the discussion but just in case here is the Oxford Dictionary on your name: BELLAS a variation of BELLHOUSE. BELLHOUSE. English: habitational name for someone who lived by a belltower. The name is largely confined to Yorks. Irish workers migrated to this area of England for seasonal farm work if that is any help. Jim McDonald [email protected] ----- Original Message ----- From: "Maisie Egger" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, October 25, 2006 4:18 AM Subject: [IGW] Bellas name > Hello, > > I have a friend here in California whose father's name was Buckalew, a > corruption of Buccleuch (the Duke of Buccleuch), Scottish borders family. > > Some of her family were related to Coats and Clark, the thread people in > Paisley, Renfrewshire, but she said there is also someone by the name of > BELLAS who came from Ireland, also connected "with the thread people". To > me, it sounds like an Italian name, but I am not an authority, so thought > I > would post this on this site to see if it does indeed resonate with > someone > who can determine that it does have Irish roots. > > In anticipation, > > Maisie