Show ContentsBeearde History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The chronicles of Scottish history reveal that the first people to use the name Beearde were the Strathclyde-Britons. It was a name for a poet, which was originally derived from the Gaelic word bard. [1]

Early Origins of the Beearde family

The surname Beearde was first found in Lanarkshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Lannraig) a former county in the central Strathclyde region of Scotland, now divided into the Council Areas of North Lanarkshire, South Lanarkshire, and the City of Glasgow, where they held a family seat from ancient times.

According to legend, William the Lion, King of Scotland was alarmed by the approach of a wild boar, while hunting in one of the southwestern counties. Baird, who was a follower in the King's train, came forward to assist the King. Baird needed only a single arrow to slay the boar, and was rewarded for this service by the king. He was granted large areas of lands, and was assigned a Coat of Arms on which there is a wild boar. King William also commanded that Baird would have as his motto Dominus Fecit (The Lord made). In the Churchyard of Banff, Scotland, Baird's Arms may still be seen in an ancient monument to the Bairds of Auchmeddan.

Early History of the Beearde family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Beearde research. Another 143 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1300, 1616, 1620, 1632, 1647, 1654, 1656, 1658, 1667, 1686, 1690, 1697, 1698, 1715, 1717, 1736, 1737, 1739, 1740, 1743, 1745, 1748, 1753, 1759 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Beearde History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Beearde Spelling Variations

Prior to the first dictionaries, scribes spelled words according to sound. This, and the fact that Scottish names were repeatedly translated from Gaelic to English and back, contributed to the enormous number of spelling variations in Scottish names. Beearde has been spelled Baird, Bard, Barde, Baard, Bayard, Beard and many more.

Early Notables of the Beearde family

Notable amongst the family at this time was Henry Bard, 1st Viscount Bellomont (1616-1656), an English Royalist; Charles Rupert Bard, 2nd Viscount Bellomont (1647-1667); and Sir John Baird of Newbyth, Lord Newbyth (1620-1698), a Scottish advocate, judge, politician and diplomat, Commissioner for Aberdeenshire in the Parliament of Scotland; Sir William Baird, 1st and 2nd Baronet of Newbyth (1654-1737); Sir John Baird, 2nd and 3rd Baronet of Newbyth (1686-1745); Sir Robert Baird, 1st Baronet of Saughtonhall (died 1697); and his son...
Another 79 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Beearde Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Beearde family to Ireland

Some of the Beearde family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 59 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 Beearde family

In such difficult times, the difficulties of raising the money to cross the Atlantic to North America did not seem so large compared to the problems of keeping a family together in Scotland. It was a journey well worth the cost, since it was rewarded with land and freedom the Scots could not find at home. The American War of Independence solidified that freedom, and many of those settlers went on to play important parts in the forging of a great nation. Among them: James Baird who arrived in America in 1685; John Baird settled in Charles Town [Charleston], South Carolina in 1773; Thomas Baird settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1774.



The Beearde 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: Dominus fecit
Motto Translation: The Lord made.


  1. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.


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