Beckette History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The origins of the Beckette surname date back to the time of the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. It comes from an early member of the family who was a person with a prominent nose. The Old English word beke refers to the beak of a bird. More rarely, Beckette may be a local type surname, referring to someone who lived beside a stream.

The surname in this case is derived from the Northern Old English word bekke, which means stream and is derived from the Old Norse word bekkr. Also, Beckette may be a local surname referring to settlements called Beckett in Berkshire and Devon.

The Berkshire settlement takes its name from the Old English words beo, which means bee, and cot, which means cottage or shelter. The name of the Devon settlement has the Old English personal name Bicca, which is probably derived from becca, which means pickaxe or mattock, as its first element.

Early Origins of the Beckette family

The surname Beckette was first found in Norfolk and Cheshire, where they held a family seat from ancient times, long before the Norman Conquest in 1066.

Early History of the Beckette family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Beckette research. Another 109 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1170, 1653, 1684, 1719, 1738 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Beckette History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Beckette Spelling Variations

The first dictionaries that appeared in the last few hundred years did much to standardize the English language. Before that time, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. The language was changing, incorporating pieces of other languages, and the spelling of names changed with it. Beckette has been spelled many different ways, including Becket, Beckett, Beckete, Beckette and others.

Early Notables of the Beckette family

Distinguished members of the family include Isaac Beckett (1653-1719), an English mezzotint engraver from Kent; one of the first practitioners of the art in England. William Becket (1684-1738), the English surgeon...
Another 29 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Beckette Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Beckette family to Ireland

Some of the Beckette family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 63 words (4 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 Beckette family

Thousands of English families in this era began to emigrate the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. Although the passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe, those who made the voyage safely were rewarded with opportunities unavailable to them in their homeland. Research into passenger and immigration lists has revealed some of the very first Beckettes to arrive in North America: John Becket who settled in Salem Massachusetts in 1683; was a shipwright and had a large family. Mary Becket settled in Plymouth Massachusetts in 1623.