| ![Show Contents]() Bethany History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 Scotland Wales Bethany comes from a place name. The roots of this Scottish place name; however date back to the great movement of the Norse Vikings. The ancestors of the Bethany family lived in Beetham in Cumbria. This place name is thought to come from the Old Norse "beth," meaning "embankment." 1 The parish was recorded as Biedum in the Domesday Book and at that time in Yorkshire and was land held by Roger de Poitou. 2 More recently, the parish had a population of 1,724 in the 2001 census. Interestingly, "in digging a grave near one of the pillars in the nave of the Church [of Beetham], in Aug. 1834, upwards of 100 silver coins, chiefly of the reigns of William the Conqueror and his son William Rufus, with a few of Edward the Confessor and Canute the Dane, were discovered." 3 Early Origins of the Bethany familyThe surname Bethany was first found in Cumbria at Beetham, a parish, in the union and ward of Kendal, historically in Westmorland. 3 However, some of family were well established further south at Warton in Lancashire at early times. "Warton appears to have belonged to the lord of WoodPlumpton, by intermarriage with whose heiress the Betham family became connected with the property. The last of the Bethams was Roger, whose daughter married Sir Robert Middleton, of Leighton, in the reign of Richard III." 3 Placita de Quo Warranto listed Richard de Betham, Norfolk, 20 Edward I (in the 20th year of King Edward I's reign.) 4 Ralph de Betham, was a benefactor to Furness Abbey during the reign of Henry II. 5 Ralph de Bethum was listed in the Assize Rolls of Northumberland in 1279; Robert de Bethum, was listed in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379; and Stephen Betham, was listed in the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1541. 6 Early History of the Bethany familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bethany research. Another 88 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1320, 1599, 1632, 1642, 1659, 1665, 1684 and 1709 are included under the topic Early Bethany History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Bethany Spelling VariationsSpelling and translation were quite undeveloped in the Middle Ages. Consequently, the spelling of Scottish names was an inconsistent practice, usually governed by the unique ear of the scribe recording the name. Over the years, Bethany was spelled Betham, Beetam, Beetham, Beatam, Beatham, Beetem, Beedham and many more. Early Notables of the Bethany familyAnother 33 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Bethany Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Bethany familyOpportunity and land greeted those who made it all the way. Some had the opportunity to solidify their new freedom by fighting in the American War of Independence, while others went or stayed north as United Empire Loyalists. Recently, the ancestors of those brave settlers have been able to recover much of their heritage through Clan societies and other patriotic organizations. A thorough examination of passenger and immigration lists has disclosed evidence of many early immigrants of the name Bethany: Richard Beetham who settled in Virginia in 1720.
| Contemporary Notables of the name Bethany (post 1700) | + |
- Bethany Campbell (1941-2022), pen-name of Sally McCluskey, an American three-time Rita Award winning writer of romance novels
- Bethany Moura (b. 1976), Member of the Rhode Island State Senate
- Bethany Sketchley, American actress, known for The Bench: Chapter Seven-Grace and Mary (2014), Sister (2015) and Oliver Twisted (2013)
- Bethany Kaster (b. 1984), Canadian assistant editor and post-production assistant, known for her work on What's Up Warthogs! (2010), Pride of Lions (2014) and Recipe to Riches (2011)
- Bethany 'Beth' Langston (b. 1992), English cricketer
- Bethany Kennedy Scanlon (b. 1975), American Christian author and speaker
- Bethany Beardslee (b. 1927), American soprano
- Bethany Joy Lenz-Galeotti, American television actress
- Bethany Yarrow, singer, songwriter, arranger, producer
- Bethany M. Barnett, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Ohio, 2008 7
The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.
Motto: Per ardua surgam
Motto Translation: I rise through difficulty.
- Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
- Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
- Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, 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)
- Barber, Henry, British Family Names London: Elliot Stock, 62 Paternoster Row, 1894. Print.
- Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
- The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, December 11) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
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