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Beeston History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Citations

Beeston History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The name Beeston has a long Anglo-Saxon heritage. The name comes from when a family lived at Beeston Castle, in the county of Cheshire. Beeston is also a village near Leeds. Bayston Hill is a large village and civil parish in central Shropshire.

Early Origins of the Beeston family

The surname Beeston was first found in Cheshire, at Beeston, a township, in the parish of Bunbury, union of Nantwich, First division of the hundred of Eddisbury. "This place takes its name from a castle founded by Ranulph de Blundeville, about 1220, and which was made a royal garrison in the war between Henry III. and the confederate barons. Of the ancient mansion of the Beeston family, who long resided here, there are but small remains." 1

"The Shropshire Beestons possess the name of more than one Cheshire parish: they are also represented in Derbyshire and Stafford." 2

Early rolls revealed the family was scattered throughout ancient England in early times. William Bestone was listed in Norfolk in 1153-1166; Andrew de Bieston was entered in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1203; and Ralph de Bestune was listed in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 in Cheshire. William Besteton and Ralph Biesteton were listed in Hampshire c. 1248.

Yorkshire had more records in various rolls: Herbert de Beston in the Assize Rolls of 1219; and Richard de Bestayn was listed as holding lands there in 1297. 3

The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 list: Radulphus de Beston, Esquier, of Beeston; Willelmiis de Beston; and Johannes de Beeston. 4

John Beston (d. 1428), was a theological writer, Prior of the Carmelite convent at Bishop's Lynn, and a doctor in theology both of Cambridge and Paris. "He was highly esteemed as a theologian and a philosopher, and also as a preacher. " 5

Early History of the Beeston family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Beeston research. Another 111 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1579, 1606, 1636, 1638, 1682, 1702, 1711 and 1793 are included under the topic Early Beeston History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Beeston Spelling Variations

Spelling variations in names were a common occurrence before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate spelled their names differently as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Beeston have been found, including Beeston, Beaston, Beeson, Beason, Beestoun, Beson and many more.

Early Notables of the Beeston family

Notables of this surname at this time include:

Sir Charles Beeston
Sir William Beeston (c.1636-1702), an English politician, Leutenant-Governor of Jamaica
Christopher Beeston (c.1579-1638), English actor and a powerful theatrical impresario in early 17th century London

Beeston migration to the United States +

Families began migrating abroad in enormous numbers because of the political and religious discontent in England. Often faced with persecution and starvation in England, the possibilities of the New World attracted many English people. Although the ocean trips took many lives, those who did get to North America were instrumental in building the necessary groundwork for what would become for new powerful nations. Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America bore the name Beeston, or a variant listed above:

Beeston Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

William Beeston, who arrived in Maryland in 1664 6
Stephen Beeston who settled in Maryland in 1666

Beeston Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Sidney W. Beeston, aged 43, who arrived in New York in 1919 aboard the ship "Belgic" from Liverpool, England 7
S. W. Beeston, aged 45, who arrived in New York in 1920 aboard the ship "Zeeland" from Antwerp, Belgium 7
Severin Beeston, aged 45, who arrived in New York in 1921 aboard the ship "Zeeland" from Antwerp, Belgium 7

Beeston migration to Australia +

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

Beeston Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. John Beeston, English convict who was convicted in Derby, England for life, transported aboard the "David Lyon" on 29th April 1830, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 8
Richard Beeston, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Northumberland" in 1850 9
Margaret Beeston, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Northumberland" in 1850 9

Beeston migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Beeston Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Raymond Beeston, aged 36, a painter, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Duke of Edinburgh" in 1873
Mary A. Beeston, aged 30, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Duke of Edinburgh" in 1873
Benjamin F. Beeston, aged 3, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Duke of Edinburgh" in 1873

Contemporary Notables of the name Beeston (post 1700) +

James Beeston (b. 1778), English cricketer who made 24 appearances from 1794 to 1808
W Beeston (1789-1799), English cricketer who made 11 known appearances in major cricket matches from 1789 to 1799, brother of John Beeston
Carl Beeston (b. 1967), English footballer who played from 1985 to 2000, member of the England U21 National Team in 1998
Professor Alfred Beeston (1911-1995), English academic, expert in languages at the Bodleian Library, University of Oxford
Joe Beeston (1947-2008), British businessman, former CEO of Highland Spring, a Scottish supplier of bottled water
Richard Beeston (1963-2013), British journalist, foreign editor of The Times
Paul McGill Beeston (b. 1945), Canadian executive, President and Chief Operating Officer of the Toronto Blue Jays

Citations +

Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. 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)
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Ellis Island Search retrieved 15th November 2022. Retrieved from https://heritage.statueofliberty.org/passenger-result
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 3rd June 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/david-lyon
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) NORTHUMBERLAND 1850. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1850Northumberland.gif