Save Type Surname (from nickname) Usage Catalan, Galician Pronounced Pron. ə-BU-lyə(Catalan) ə-BEH-lyə(Catalan) a-BEH-lya(Catalan, Galician) [key·IPA] Meaning & History Means "bee" in Catalan and Galician, used as a nickname for a small, active person or an occupational name for a beekeeper.