Bey
/beɪ/noun
A hereditary title formerly used for a ruler, governor, or prominent man in the Ottoman Empire and other Turkic regions.
Did you know?In the Ottoman hierarchy, a bey could govern a province or military district, while the related title beylerbeyi literally meant “lord of lords.”
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Turkic, early first millennium CE
Proto-Turkic
*bäg
“A reconstructed title meaning lord, chief, or nobleman”
8th Century
Old Turkic
bäg
“A noble or leader, recorded in early Turkic inscriptions”
10th–12th Century
Middle Turkic
beg
“A lord, prince, or military commander”
15th–16th Century
Ottoman Turkish
bey
“A provincial governor, military commander, or high-ranking gentleman”
17th Century
English
bey
“A title used for Ottoman or other Muslim rulers and officials”
Modern English
English
bey
“A historical title and, in some contexts, a surname”