What is a "Bey"?
Q: What is a "Bey"?
A: "Bey" is a traditional Turkish title given to chieftain rulers of a Beylik or leaders/rulers of various sized areas in the Ottoman Empire.
Q: What was the equivalent title for women?
A: The equivalent title for women was "Begum."
Q: Is "Bey" still used today?
A: Yes, "Bey" is still used as a formal social title for men today.
Q: How is "Bey" used with names?
A: "Bey" is cited after the first name and not used with last names.
Q: What is the origin of the word "Bey"?
A: The actual origin of the word "Bey" is still disputed, but it is mostly agreed that it was a loan-word in Old Turkic.
Q: Where does the word "Bey" come from?
A: The word "Bey" entered English from Turkish "bey," which itself derived from Old Turkic "beg."
Q: What is the meaning of "beg" in Old Turkic?
A: "Beg" in Old Turkic is usually translated as "tribal leader," and it has been mentioned as early as in the Orkhon inscriptions (8th century AD).
