This surname is derived from the name of an ancestor. — the son of Beatrice.' Beattie was the Northumbrian and Lowland Scotch form of the pet name. 'An abbreviation of the female name Beatrix' (Jamieson). The following variants of this surname are" found on the Border: Baetie, Baitie, Baittie, Batie, Baty, Batye, Baytie, and Bette; v. The Debateable Land, by Robert Bruce Armstrong.

1729. Married — William Beaty and Sarah Davis: St. Peter, Cornhill.

BEATTIE, Beatty, Beaty: A well-known Border surname, commonly explained as a metronymic from Beatrice, but really from Bate or Baty, pet or diminutive forms of Bartholomew. (There was, however, a Gilbert fitz Beatrice of the county of Roxburghe who rendered homage for his lands in 1296 (Bain, II, p. 199), but of this name there is no further record). In 1569 "Hew Batie and Johnne Batie enterit plegeis for thame selffs, thair sonnis men tententis servandis and haill surname of Batesonis" (RPC., II, p. 42). Beatties and Beatsons were fairly numerous in Upper Eskdale, and In Ewesdale, and Wauchopedale. The name is also found in Berwick-on-Tweed as early as 1334 (Rot. Scot., I, p. 275). The surname is also found early in the north, where we find John Betty admitted burgess of Aberdeen in 1473 (NSCM., I, p. 24). Andrew Batie was burgess of Dumfries, 1567 (Edgar, p. 242) and persons of the name of Batie were followers of the earl of Morton in 1585 (APS., hi, p. 392). William Baty was burgess of Moncrose in 1513 (REB., II, 170), John Bety rendered to Exchequer the accounts of the same burgh in 1558 (ER., XIX, p. 43), John Baty was prebendary of Lincloudane in 1565 (RRM., III, p. 393), Robert Bettie was burgess in Montrose 1635 (RPC., 2. ser, V, p. 517), and James Batty was officer in Inverness in 1574 (Laing, 907). In the eighteenth century the name was extremely common in the parish of Laurencekirk, "nearly every farm in the parish was at one time or other in the hands of a Beattie'' (Fraser, History of Laurencekirk, p. 170). Barbara Beaty and Joneta Bety were retoured heirs portioners of Helene Striveling in the lands of Balcaskie in 1620 (Retours, Fife, 312,313). There is no evidence to support the theory that this name is from Gael, biadhtach, one who held land on condition of supplying food (biad) to those billeted on him by the chief (AU., II, 128). As forename we find Baty Flessor in Ayr, c. 1340 (Friars Ayr, p. 15), and Batye Muchowray signed the Band of Dumfries in 1570 (RPC., XIV, p. 66). Other old forms are: Baetie, Baitie, Baittie (1567), Baitty, Batye (1579), Baytie, Beatie (1627), Betay (1629), Betie, Bette, Bettie (1629).

(Anglo-French-Latin + English) = Beat, q.v. + the English diminutive suff. -ie, -y. (Celtic) Victualler. [Irish biadh- tach = Gaelic biadhtaiche-biadh, food] In ancient times an Irish chieftain usually established within his territory a sort of public hostelry, over which he placed an officer called a biadhtach, or food-man. This biadhtach, or public vic­tualler, held a tract of land rent free on condition that he should supply food and lodging without charge to travellers and to the chiefs soldiers whenever they happened to march in that direction.

Joyce, Irish Names, II. 113.

Usually the name of Scottish settlers in Ulster; but in other parts of the country it is the anglieized form of bhiadtach (public victualler) still extant as Betagh in the Athlone area; this is thus an occupative surname. MIF 30; Map Meath

(Scottish, English) Descendant of little Bate or Baty, pet forms of Bartholomew (son of Talmai, furrow), or of Bete or Beat, pet forms of Beatrice and Beatrix (she who blesses).

An "abbreviation of the female name Beatrix." Jamieson. See Female Christian Names which have become Surnames.

From the Celtic Biatach. Anciently, in Ireland, lands were assigned by the government to a certain number of persons who were appointed to keep houses of entertainment, and to exercise hospitality in the different provinces; they were called Biatachs. The office was considered honorable, and besides the lands assigned by the king, they were the lords of seven boroughs or villages, feeding seven herds of one hundred and twenty oxen each, besides the grain raised from seven ploughs every year. Beathaich, in the Gaelic, signifies to feed, nourish, to welcome, to support. "Beata mor," Irish, to have a great estate. Beatha, Gaelic, life, food, welcome, salutation.

From the Irish Betagh (biadhtach), a public victualler; a personal name.