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Bey

3 stages from Old Turkic to English.

Today it means a Turkish title for a governor or chief, and formerly a polite form of address for a man

Where does the word "bey" come from? It comes from Old Turkic beg, passing through Ottoman Turkish before entering English (1590s).

beg→bey→bey

Old Turkic · 700s

used for nobles in the Orkhon inscriptions of the 730s, the oldest known texts in a Turkic language

Ottoman Turkish · medieval

"governor, gentleman"

the title of provincial governors; the Beys of Tunis kept it until Tunisia abolished its monarchy in 1957

English · 1590s

"a Turkish governor or title of respect"

brought home by English merchants and travellers in the Levant; its feminine 'begum' reached English separately through India

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Bey’s story begins in Old Turkic: beg meant “lord, chief.” Used for nobles in the Orkhon inscriptions of the 730s, the oldest known texts in a Turkic language. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Ottoman Turkish as bey. The title of provincial governors; the Beys of Tunis kept it until Tunisia abolished its monarchy in 1957. It reached English by 1590s as bey. Brought home by English merchants and travellers in the Levant; its feminine 'begum' reached English separately through India. Today, bey means a Turkish title for a governor or chief, and formerly a polite form of address for a man.