Bearcroft History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Early Origins of the Bearcroft family

The surname Bearcroft was first found in Yorkshire, where the name is derived from the Old English words "beo" + "croft," (a small field) collectively meaning "dweller at the bee-croft." 1

Another source notes the name could have been derived from a geographical locality as "at the berecroft," or "at the barley-croft." The surname is "evidently a Yorkshire local surname as no instances [were found] in the London church registers printed by the Harleian Society." 2

The first records of the family were Walter de Bercroft and Matilda Bercroft who were listed in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 as holding lands at that time in Yorkshire.

Later, the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 listed Johannes de Bercroft; and Willelmus de Bercroft. 2

"Mere Hall, [Hanbury, Worcestershire] built in 1333, is a beautiful specimen of half-timbered architecture, presenting a very picturesque appearance." 3 This branch lived in Hanbury from at least 1412 and owned much of the land in the south of the parish until the middle of the twentieth century. Mere Hall was passed to Edward Henry Longcroft, whose grandmother was a Bearcroft in 1820.

Early History of the Bearcroft family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bearcroft research. Another 134 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1412, 1587, 1697, 1700, 1710, 1716, 1717, 1718, 1719, 1761, 1820 and 1822 are included under the topic Early Bearcroft History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bearcroft Spelling Variations

Although the name, Bearcroft, appeared in many references, from time to time, the surname was shown with the spellings Beecroft, Becroft, Becraft, Bearcroft and others.

Early Notables of the Bearcroft family

Notable amongst the family name during their early history was Philip Bearcoft (1697-1761), English antiquary, descended from an ancient Worcestershire family, was born at Worcester on 1 May 1697. "In 1716 he took his B.A. degree, in...
Another 36 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Bearcroft Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bearcroft migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Bearcroft Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Henry Bearcroft, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Asiatic" in 1849 4

Citations +

Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) The ASIATIC 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849Asiatic.htm