Becraft History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Early Origins of the Becraft family

The surname Becraft 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 Becraft family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Becraft 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 Becraft History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Becraft Spelling Variations

The name Becraft, appeared in many references, and from time to time, the surname was spelt Beecroft, Becroft, Becraft, Bearcroft and others.

Early Notables of the Becraft 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 Becraft Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Becraft Ranking

In the United States, the name Becraft is the 14,124^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 4

Becraft migration to the United States +

The New World beckoned as many of the settlers in Ireland, known as the Scotch/Irish, became disenchanted. They sailed aboard the armada of sailing ships known as the "White Sails" which plied the stormy Atlantic. Some called them, less romantically, the "coffin ships." Amongst the early settlers who could be considered kinsmen of the Becraft family, or who bore a variation of the surname Becraft were

Becraft Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Peter W. Becraft, aged 26, who arrived in America, in 1918

Becraft migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Becraft Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Sgt. Gen. Corporal. Benjamin Becraft U.E. (b. 1758) born in Schohaire, New York, USA from Blenheim, Schoharie Valley, New York who settled in Home District, Ancaster Township, Ontario c. 1783 he served in the Indian Department, married Elizabeth Westbrooke between 1790 -1792 they had 4 children, he died 1801 5

Contemporary Notables of the name Becraft (post 1700) +

Carolyn H. Becraft (b. 1944), United States Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Manpower and Reserve Affairs) from 1998 to 2001
Julius O. Becraft, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Michigan, 1900 6
Clarence M. Becraft, American Republican politician, Candidate in primary for Michigan State House of Representatives from Berrien County 1st District, 1930 6
Philip W Becraft, Associate Professor of Zoology & Genetics at Iowa State University

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.
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 14) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html