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![Show Contents]() Beauvoir History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 England France
Beauvoir is one of the names that was brought to England in the wave of migration following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Beauvoir family lived in Berkshire. The family name, however, is of other geographical derivations, referring to any of several locations in Normandy called Beauvoir. The name is composed of the Old French roots beu, which means fair or lovely, and voir, which means to see, and indicates the bearer's residence in "a place with a fine view." 1 2 Early Origins of the Beauvoir familyThe surname Beauvoir was first found in Yorkshire where Ralph de Belueeir was listed in the Pipe Rolls of 1170. Later, John de Beauveir was listed in the Assize Rolls for 1204 and William Bever, de Beuver in the Curia Regis Rolls for 1207-1208. 3 The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 included the following: (Prior) de Beuver (Nottinghamshire), or Beauver (Leicestershire); John de Beauver, Yorkshire; and Thurstan de Beauver, Yorkshire. 4 Another early roll notes: John de Beauver, Yorkshire, Henry III-Edward I: Testa de Nevill, sive Liber Feodorum, temp. Henry III-Edward I. 5 Early History of the Beauvoir familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Beauvoir research. Another 81 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Beauvoir History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Beauvoir Spelling VariationsBefore English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, Norman French and other languages became incorporated into English throughout the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Beauvoir include Beaver, Beavor, Beavers, Beavors, Beavoirs, Beevers and many more. Early Notables of the Beauvoir familyMore information is included under the topic Early Beauvoir Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Beauvoir familyIn England at this time, the uncertainty of the political and religious environment of the time caused many families to board ships for distant British colonies in the hopes of finding land and opportunity, and escaping persecution. The voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, though, and many arrived in North America sick, starved, and destitute. Those who did make it, however, were greeted with greater opportunities and freedoms that they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make important contributions to the young nations in which they settled. Early immigration records have shown some of the first Beauvoirs to arrive on North American shores: Matthew Beaver, who arrived in Virginia in 1638; John Beaver, who settled in New England in 1699; Bridget Beavers, who came to Annapolis Maryland in 1730.
| Contemporary Notables of the name Beauvoir (post 1700) | + |
- Max Gesner Beauvoir (1936-2015), Haitian biochemist and houngan (priest in Haitian Vodou)
- The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
- Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
- Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
- Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
- Testa de Nevill or "Liber Feodorum" or "Book of Fees," thought to have been written by Ralph de Nevill, for King John (1199–1216)
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