Show ContentsBeckonthorpe History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Beckonthorpe family

The surname Beckonthorpe was first found in Norfolk at Blakeney, a small sea-port, post-town, and parish, in the union of Walsingham, hundred of Holt. "In this monastery [of Blakeney], John de Baconthorpe, a learned divine and acute metaphysician, became a friar; he was born here, and died in London in 1346." 1

Another source notes that John Baconthorpe, Bacon or Bacho (d. 1346), the 'Resolute Doctor,' "took his name from Baconsthorpe, a small Norfolk village in the hundred of South Erpingham. According to the elaborate genealogy of the Bacon family among the British Museum manuscripts. He was the third son of Sir Thomas Bacon of Baconsthorpe, and grandnephew of the famous Roger Bacon. " 2

Early History of the Beckonthorpe family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Beckonthorpe research. Another 90 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1340, 1455 and 1487 are included under the topic Early Beckonthorpe History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Beckonthorpe Spelling Variations

The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries; therefore,spelling variations are common among early Anglo-Saxon names. As the form of the English language changed, even the spelling of literate people's names evolved. Beckonthorpe has been recorded under many different variations, including Baconthorp, Baconthorpe, Baconsthorp, Baconsthorpe, Beconthorp, Beconsthorp, Beconthorpe, Becnsthrupp, Beconsthrop and many more.

Early Notables of the Beckonthorpe family

More information is included under the topic Early Beckonthorpe Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Beckonthorpe family

For many English families, the political and religious disarray that shrouded England made the far away New World an attractive prospect. On cramped disease-ridden ships, thousands migrated to those British colonies that would eventually become Canada and the United States. Those hardy settlers that survived the journey often went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Beckonthorpe or a variant listed above: the name represented in many forms and recorded from the mid 17th century in the great migration from Europe. Migrants settled in the eastern seaboard from Newfoundland, to Maine, to Virginia, the Carolinas, and to the islands..



  1. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  2. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print


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