Show ContentsBement History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Bement is a name that came to England in the 11th century wave of migration that was set off by the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Bement family lived in Dorset and Gloucestershire. "There existed at a remote period, a family of Beaumont in Normandy, and it was, probably, one of its cadets whose name was inscribed on the muster Roll at Battle. Certain it is that he could not have been the founder of the illustrious House of Beaumont, which, in two centuries after, appears so prominently conspicuous among the most potent barons of the realm, and which was established in this country by Henry de Beaumont, fourth son of Agnes de Beaumont, by her husband, Louie, second son of Charles, Kind of Jerusalem, and nephew of Loius IX. of France." [1]

Early Origins of the Bement family

The surname Bement was first found in Dorset and Gloucestershire, where "Roger de Belmont appears in [the] Domesday [Book] as chief tenant. According to Sir H. Ellis, he was a near kinsman of the Conqueror, being lineal descendant of that king's great grandfather. Some trace the noble English families from the Viscounts Beaumont of Normandy, and others from the blood-royal of France." [2]

The chapelry of Ryall in Northumberland is of particular interest to the family. "This was the lordship of John, Lord Beaumont, who died seised of Ryall about the year 1396, leaving it, with many other estates in this county and elsewhere, to his son and heir, Henry, then sixteen years of age, who was knighted at the coronation of Henry IV." [3]

Upper Whitley in the West Riding of Yorkshire was home to another branch of the family. "The founder of the ancient family of Beaumont here, was a Knight Hospitaller of St. John of Jerusalem, who received the manor on condition of performing certain military services in the time of Henry III. Whitley Hall has ever since been the principal residence of the family, and is now in the possession of R. H. Beaumont, Esq. [(c. 1860)]" [3]

Robert de Beaumont (d. 1118), was Count of Meulan, a feudal statesman and son of Roger de Beaumont ('de Bellomonte' in the Latinized form) and grandson of Humfrey de Vielles. [4]

His son, Robert de Beaumont Earl of Leicester (1104-1168), was Justiciary of England, and a twin with his brother Waleran. Waleran de Beaumont Count of Meulan (1104-1166), was a warrior and feudal statesman and twin brother of Robert, Earl of Leicester. Robert de Beaumont Earl of Leicester (d. 1190), was a baronial leader and son of Robert de Beaumont, Earl of Leicester. [4]

"The leading manor of South Tawton, [Devon] was once in the Beaumonts, being granted by Henry I. to Roselm Beaumont, Viscount de Mayne, whose granddaughter brought it to Roger de Tony." [5]

Early History of the Bement family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bement research. Another 136 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1086, 1198, 1305, 1309, 1340, 1438, 1507, 1584, 1585, 1616, 1636, 1638, 1650, 1660, 1668, 1669, 1676, 1679, 1685, 1689, 1699, 1701 and 1929 are included under the topic Early Bement History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bement Spelling Variations

The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries. For that reason, spelling variations are common among many Anglo-Norman names. The shape of the English language was frequently changed with the introduction of elements of Norman French, Latin, and other European languages; even the spelling of literate people's names were subsequently modified. Bement has been recorded under many different variations, including Beaumont, Beaumond, Beamond, Beamont, Beamonte, Beamonde, Bellmont, Belmont, Beomont, Beumond, Bewmont, Bewmonte, Bellemont, Beumont, Beaumount, Bewmount, Bowmont, Bowmaunt and many more.

Early Notables of the Bement family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Viscount Allandale; Henry de Beaumont, 4th Earl of Buchan (circa 1305-1340), a military tactician, who was made the 1st Baron Beaumont in 1309; Sir William de Beaumont, 2nd Viscount Beaumont (1438-1507), fought in several of the major battles of the Wars of the Roses, probably knighted before the Battle of Northampton; Francis Beaumont (c.1585-1616), a British playwright...
Another 65 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Bement Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Bement family to Ireland

Some of the Bement family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Bement migration to the United States +

To escape the uncertainty of the political and religious uncertainty found in England, many English families boarded ships at great expense to sail for the colonies held by Britain. The passages were expensive, though, and the boats were unsafe, overcrowded, and ridden with disease. Those who were hardy and lucky enough to make the passage intact were rewarded with land, opportunity, and social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families went on to be important contributors to the young nations of Canada and the United States where they settled. Bements were some of the first of the immigrants to arrive in North America:

Bement Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Gamaliell Bement, aged 12, who landed in New England in 1635 [6]
Bement Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Clarence L. Bement, aged 56, originally from London, arrived in New York in 1892 aboard the ship "City of New York" from Liverpool, England [7]
  • Anna Bement, aged 13, arrived in New York in 1893 aboard the ship "La Bourgogne" from Havre, France [7]
  • Miss Bement, aged 20, arrived in New York in 1893 aboard the ship "La Gascogne" from Havre, France [7]
  • Mrs. Bement, aged 50, arrived in New York in 1893 aboard the ship "La Gascogne" from Havre, France [7]
  • Charles S. Bement, aged 38, arrived in New York in 1895 aboard the ship "Lucania" from Liverpool, England [7]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Bement Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Edward Bement, aged 71, arrived in New York in 1919 aboard the ship "Lafayette" from Le Havre, France [7]
  • Lewis D. Bement, aged 41, destined for Framingham, Mass., arrived in New York in 1919 aboard the ship "Orduna" from Liverpool, England [7]
  • Norma Bement, aged 26, destined for Ithaca, N. J., arrived in New York in 1919 aboard the ship "Rotterdam" from Brest, France [7]
  • Mary V. Bement, aged 46, arrived in New York in 1920 aboard the ship "Adriatic" from Cherbourg, France [7]

Contemporary Notables of the name Bement (post 1700) +

  • Samuel Bement, American homesteader, eponym of the Bement Covered Bridge, a historic wooden covered bridge on Center Road over the Warner River in Bradford, New Hampshire
  • Brian Bement (b. 1993), American soccer player who plays for Puerto Rico FC
  • Linda Jeanne Bement (b. 1941), American model and beauty queen, the third Miss USA to be crowned Miss Universe in 1960
  • Arden Lee Bement Jr. (b. 1932), American engineer and scientist, former Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Advanced Technology, Chief Technical Officer of TRW, Director of the National Science Foundation (NSF) and Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology
  • Rufus Budd Bement, American politician, Representative from Michigan 2nd District, 1843
  • Martin O. Bement, American politician, U.S. Collector of Customs, 1941
  • G. Willis Bement, American Republican politician, Presidential Elector for Michigan, 1896
  • E. G. Bement, American Democratic Party politician, Member of Michigan National Democratic State Central Committee, 1899
  • Arthur Orin Bement (1847-1915), American Republican politician, Mayor of Lansing, Michigan, 1892-93


  1. Burke, John Bernard, The Roll of Battle Abbey. London: Edward Churton, 26, Holles Street, 1848, Print.
  2. 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)
  3. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  4. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
  5. Worth, R.N., A History of Devonshire London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, E.G., 1895. Digital
  6. 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)
  7. Ellis Island Search retrieved 15th November 2022. Retrieved from https://heritage.statueofliberty.org/passenger-result


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