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Beveridge History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Citations

Beveridge History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Scotland

The history of the Beveridge family goes back to the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. It is derived from the family living on Beverege, an island in the Severn River, about 4 miles north of Worcester.

"Mr. Beveridge says the origin of the name is to be found in 'Beverege,' the name of an island in the Severn referred to by Florence of Worcester as a retreat of the Danes during a revolt of the English [in 1041]. The name, he correctly says, means 'Beaver island,' from Old English befer or beofer, and ig or ige, island." 1 Later known as Bevere Island, this island became a refuge once again during the Black Death.

Camden notes: "The existence of the beaver in Britain within historical memory seems proved by such names as Beverege, Beverley, perhaps but less likely Beverstone in Gloucestershire." He speaks of beavers in his time in the Teifi, but in Teifi only. Another source noted the name was derived from "Beferige, i. e. 'the Beaver's edge,' Several other local names in Befer, in that collection, show that the beaver was an inhabitant of this island in Saxon times." 2

While the name Beveridge may have arisen in the southwest of England, it is generally associated with Yorkshire and Scotland.

Early Origins of the Beveridge family

The surname Beveridge was first found in Buckinghamshire where the first record of the family was Wido, William Beverage who was listed in the Curia Regis Rolls of 1212 and later in the Pipe Rolls of Surrey in 1230. Richard Bevereche was listed c. 1240 in Huntingdonshire. The Assize Rolls of Somerset in 1280 list William Bauerich. 3 This latter source notes the origin of the name as having derived from the Middle English word "beuerage," or the Old French word "bevrege, buverage" meaning "drink, liquor for consumption." By far, the lion's share of sources claim that the name originates from the aforementioned Beverege Island with this source and one other eluding to the more contemporary use of the word.

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 list the following: Hugh Beverach, Cambridgeshire; Ralph Beverache, Cambridgeshire; Agnes Beverach, Cambridgeshire; Halter Beverage, Lincolnshire; and Thomas Beverage, Yorkshire. 4 Some of the family moved north into Northumberland and into Scotland about the year 1200.

In Scotland it was a name very difficult for the Scottish tongue, pronunciation and spellings became numerous. Here they settled in St. Andrews in 1302 where Walter Beverage is named as juror on an inquest at St. Andrews. Years later, Henry Beveragh was witness in Paisley, 1504 and a decree against Alexander Bauerage is recorded in 1531. David Beverage was cup-bearer to James V in 1534. 1

Early History of the Beveridge family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Beveridge research. Another 105 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1636, 1637, 1704, 1708, 1890 and 1923 are included under the topic Early Beveridge History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Beveridge Spelling Variations

Until quite recently, the English language has lacked a definite system of spelling rules. Consequently, Anglo-Saxon surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. Changes in Anglo-Saxon names were influenced by the evolution of the English language, as it incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other languages. Although Medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, so it is common to find one person referred to by several different spellings of his surname, even the most literate people varied the spelling of their own names. Variations of the name Beveridge include Beveridge, Belfridge, Belfrage, Beverage, Beveradge, Bevidge, Bevige, Berridge and many more.

Early Notables of the Beveridge family

Distinguished members of the family include

William Beveridge (1637-1708), an English clergyman, Bishop of St Asaph (1704-1708.) He was the "son of the Rev...
William Beveridge...

Beveridge Ranking

In the United States, the name Beveridge is the 7,432^nd most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 5 However, in Australia, the name Beveridge is ranked the 1,000^th most popular surname with an estimated 3,954 people with that name. 6

Beveridge migration to the United States +

Searching for a better life, many English families migrated to British colonies. Unfortunately, the majority of them traveled under extremely harsh conditions: overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the ocean. For those families that arrived safely, modest prosperity was attainable, and many went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the new colonies. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Beveridge or a variant listed above:

Beveridge Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

John Beveridge who settled in New England in 1685

Beveridge Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Jenneti Beveridge, who arrived in Virginia in 1700 7
Mary Beveridge, who settled in Maryland in 1774

Beveridge Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

James Beveridge, who landed in Albany, NY in 1818 7
Robert Beveridge, who arrived in New York in 1823
Helen Beveridge, who arrived in Iowa in 1848 7
Robert Beveridge, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1853 7
Andrew Beveridge, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1856 7
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Beveridge migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Beveridge Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Mr. David Beveridge, "Beveradge" U.E. who settled in Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1783 8

Beveridge migration to Australia +

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

Beveridge Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. John Beveridge, (Anderson), (b. 1795), aged 26, Scottish convict who was convicted in Perth, Scotland for 14 years for house breaking, transported aboard the "Claudine" on 20th May 1821, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land), he died in 1882 9
William Beveridge, a joiner, who arrived in Van Diemen’s Land (now Tasmania) sometime between 1825 and 1832
Mr. Robert Beveridge, Scottish convict who was convicted in Perth, Scotland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Bussorah Merchant" on 1st October 1829, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 10
"Miss Margaret Beveridge, (b. 1810), aged 18, English house maid who was convicted in Kent, England for life for house breaking, transported aboard the ""Competitor"" on 9th June 1828, arriving in New South Wales, Australia" 11
John Beveridge, English convict from Oyer, who was transported aboard the "Argyle" on March 5th, 1831, settling in Van Diemen's Land, Australia 12
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Beveridge 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:

Beveridge Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. Beveridge, Australian settler travelling from Sydney aboard the ship "Earl of Lonsdale" arriving in Bay of Islands, North Island, New Zealand on 11th April 1841 13
James Beveridge, who landed in Epsom, Auckland, New Zealand in 1843
Mr. John Beveridge, (b. 1841), aged 28, British farmer travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Hydaspes" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 30th September 1869 13
Mrs. Isabella Beveridge, (b. 1845), aged 24, British settler travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Hydaspes" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 30th September 1869 13

Contemporary Notables of the name Beveridge (post 1700) +

John Lourie Beveridge (1824-1910), American politician, 16th Governor of Illinois (1873-1877)
George D. Beveridge (1922-1987), American Pulitzer Prize winning journalist known for his work at The Washington Post
Daeida Hartell Wilcox Beveridge (1861-1914), American entrepreneur who co-founded and named the town of Hollywood, Los Angeles
Albert Jeremiah Beveridge (1862-1927), American politician and historian, U.S. Senator from Indiana (1899-1911)
Judith Beveridge (b. 1956), English-born, Australian poet, editor and academic
Mr. Allan Beveridge B.E.M., British recipient of Medallist of the British Empire Medal 29th December 2018 for voluntary service to the community in Peebles 14
William Ian Beardmore "WIB" Beveridge (1908-2006), Australian animal pathologist and director of the Institute of Animal Pathology, University of Cambridge
William Wightman Beveridge (1858-1941), Scottish footballer capped three times by the Scotland national football team
Graeme Beveridge (b. 1976), Scottish rugby player
William Stanley "Bill" Beveridge (1909-1995), Canadian professional NHL ice hockey goaltender who played from 1929 to 1943
... (Another 8 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Beveridge family +

HMS Hood

Mr. Roy Beveridge (b. 1922), English Ordnance Artificer 4th Class serving for the Royal Navy from Blaydon-on Tyne, County Durham, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 15

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)
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. 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)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
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)
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 17th February 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/claudine
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 10th November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/bussorah-merchant
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 8th March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/competitor
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2015, January 8) Argyle voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1831 with 251 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/argyle/1831
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
"Birthday and New Year Honours Lists (1940 to 2019)." Issue 62507, 28 December 2018 | London Gazette, The Gazette, Dec. 2018, www.thegazette.co.uk/honours-lists
H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm