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![Show Contents]() Bedeham History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 England
The name Bedeham is Anglo-Saxon in origin. It was a name given to a person hired to pray for another's soul after his death. The surname Bedeham is derived from the Old English terms bede, which means prayer, and man, which means man. In medieval England, there were also beadhouses, or almshouses for the poor, where the inhabitants were required to pray for their benefactors. In a publication by Skelton in 1528, he wrote of Other smale mynisters, as reders and singers, bedemen and bellringers. Early Origins of the Bedeham familyThe surname Bedeham was first found in Somerset, where they held a family seat from the Middle Ages. Lawrence Bedeman or Stevine (fl. 1372-1410), was a supporter of Wycliffe who appears first, in 1372, as a scholar of Stapeldon Hall. He was ultimately rector, holding this office from 1379 to 1380. After this he was made rector of Lifton, in Devonshire, and held this benefice as late as 11 June 1410, when he was licensed to preach in Latin or English. 1 Early History of the Bedeham familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bedeham research. Another 200 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1327, 1372, 1381, 1410, 1500, 1659 and 1793 are included under the topic Early Bedeham History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Bedeham Spelling VariationsUntil the dictionary, an invention of only the last few hundred years, the English language lacked any comprehensive system of spelling rules. Consequently, spelling variations in names are frequently found in early Anglo-Saxon and later Anglo-Norman documents. One person's name was often spelled several different ways over a lifetime. The recorded variations of Bedeham include Beadman, Bedman, Bedeman, Bedemon, Beadmann and many more. Early Notables of the Bedeham familyAnother 42 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Bedeham Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Bedeham familyThousands of English families boarded ships sailing to the New World in the hope of escaping the unrest found in England at this time. Although the search for opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad took the lives of many because of the cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels, the opportunity perceived in the growing colonies of North America beckoned. Many of the settlers who survived the journey went on to make important contributions to the transplanted cultures of their adopted countries. The Bedeham were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records: Elizabeth Beadman who arrived in Virginia in 1650.
- Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
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