Betay History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Scotland
Ireland

The Boernician clans of the Scottish-English border region were home to the ancestors of the Betay family. Their name is derived from Bate or Baty, diminutive forms of Bartholomew. Most sources claim the name is a metronymic derived from the name Beatrice, but really the name was more probably from "Bate or Baty, pet or diminutive forms of Bartholomew." 1

To confuse matters more, the name could also be from the Gaelic "biadhtach", which refers to a tenant granted land in return for feeding certain people chosen by the chief.

Regardless, the first record of the family was Gilbert fitz Beatrice who was living in the county of Roxburghe in 1296. He rendered homage to King Edward I upon his invasion of Scotland in that year. "Beatties and Beatsons were fairly numerous in Upper Eskdale, and In Ewesdale, and Wauchopedale. The name is also found in Berwick-on-Tweed as early as 1334." 1

Early Origins of the Betay family

The surname Betay was first found in Roxburghshire, where the name is a "well-known Border surname, commonly explained as a metronymic from Beatrice, but really from Bate or Baty, pet or diminutive forms of Bartholomew. (There was, however, a Gilbert fitz Beatrice of the county of Roxburghe who rendered homage for his lands in 1296 [to King Edward I of England], but of this name there is no further record). Beatties and Beatsons were fairly numerous in Upper Eskdale, and In Ewesdale, and Wauchopedale. The name is also found in Berwick-on-Tweed as early as 1334. The surname is also found early in the north, where we find John Betty admitted burgess of Aberdeen in 1473. Andrew Batie was burgess of Dumfries, 1567 and persons of the name of Batie were followers of the earl of Morton in 1585. William Baty was burgess of Moncrose in 1513, John Bety rendered to Exchequer the accounts of the same burgh in 1558, John Baty was prebendary of Lincloudane in 1565, Robert Bettie was burgess in Montrose 1635. " 1

Early History of the Betay family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Betay research. Another 196 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1473, 1513, 1558, 1565, 1567, 1574, 1585, 1597, 1603, 1620, 1635, 1735, 1742, 1749, 1768, 1771, 1774, 1787, 1789, 1790, 1793, 1803, 1806, 1807, 1808, 1809, 1817, 1818, 1831, 1840, 1842, 1875 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Betay History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Betay Spelling Variations

In the many years before the invention of the printing press and the first dictionaries, names and other words were spelled according to sound, often differently with each person who wrote them. Spelling variations of Betay include Beattie, Beatty, Beaty, Beatie, Betay, Bety and others.

Early Notables of the Betay family

Notable amongst the family name during their early history was Henry Beattie of Dysart; Robert Beattie of Montrose; William Beattie of Bervie; all of whom represented their Clan in Scottish Parliament. Later James Beattie (1735-1803), Scottish poet, is best remembered for his long poem "The Minstral"...
Another 45 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Betay Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Betay family to Ireland

Some of the Betay family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 270 words (19 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Betay family

In many cases, the ancestors of many of these Boernician-Scottish people are just now learning of their Scottish heritage. Since the trip was so arduous, and many were fleeing from poverty itself, settlers brought little with them and often had nothing of their personal history to hand down to their children. Clan societies and highland games have helped to correct this problem in the 20th century. Early immigration records have shown some of the first Betays to arrive on North American shores: Agnes Beattie who arrived in New York City in 1774; Patrick Beatty arrived in Newcastle, Del. in 1789; William Beatty in Charles Town [Charleston], South Carolina in 1774.

The Betay Motto +

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: Lumen coeleste sequamur
Motto Translation: May we follow heavenly inspiration.

Citations +

Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)