Bettis History, Family Crest & Coats of ArmsThe name Bettis is tied to the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of England. It comes from one of a number of personal names. The surname Bettis is usually explained as a metronymic derivative of the female personal name Beatrice, or less often, Elizabeth. 1 However, the name is undoubtedly occasionally derived from the male personal name Bartholomew, which also took the variant forms Bertram or Bertelmew. The surname Bettis may also be a "local" type surname which means a dweller by the hollows. Early Origins of the Bettis familyThe surname Bettis was first found in Norfolk, where they held a family seat from ancient times, long before the Norman Conquest in 1066. "One of the principal stocks of the old and characteristic Norfolk name of Betts included the family that possessed, in the 15th and 16th centuries, the manors of Hastings Hall and Whitefoot in Irmingland. This name is also well represented in Lincolnshire, where it usually takes the form of Bett; it is also present, though less numerous, in the other east coast counties of Suffolk and Kent." 2 Early History of the Bettis familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bettis research. Another 178 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1200, 1379, 1480, 1500, 1570, 1576, 1581, 1590, 1642, 1643, 1646, 1647, 1695, 1743, 1770, 1905 and 1912 are included under the topic Early Bettis History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Bettis Spelling VariationsOnly recently has spelling become standardized in the English language. As the English language evolved in the Middle Ages, the spelling of names changed also. The name Bettis has undergone many spelling variations, including Betts, Bets, Bettes, Bett, Bette and others. Early Notables of the Bettis familyNotables of the family at this time include John Bettes (d. 1570?), an English miniature painter, commonly stated to have been a pupil of Nicholas Hilliard. "Bettes painted a miniature in oils of Queen Elizabeth, which is said to have been highly successful. He is mentioned by Foxe in his 'Ecclesiastical History' as having engraved a pedigree and some vignettes for Hall's 'Chronicle.' He is also said to have painted the portrait of Sir John Godsalve. Foxe... Bettis RankingIn the United States, the name Bettis is the 4,859th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 3
To escape the unstable social climate in England of this time, many families boarded ships for the New World with the hope of finding land, opportunity, and greater religious and political freedom. Although the voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, those families that arrived often found greater opportunities and freedoms than they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make significant contributions to the rapidly developing colonies in which they settled. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Bettis were among those contributors: Bettis Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
Bettis Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
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: Ostendo non ostento Motto Translation: I show, not boast.
|