Beevor History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The name Beevor was brought to England in the wave of migration that followed the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Beevor family lived in Berkshire. The family name, however, is of other geographical derivations, referring to any of several locations in Normandy called Beauvoir. The name is composed of the Old French roots beu, which means fair or lovely, and voir, which means to see, and indicates the bearer's residence in "a place with a fine view." 1 2

Early Origins of the Beevor family

The surname Beevor was first found in Yorkshire where Ralph de Belueeir was listed in the Pipe Rolls of 1170. Later, John de Beauveir was listed in the Assize Rolls for 1204 and William Bever, de Beuver in the Curia Regis Rolls for 1207-1208. 3

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 included the following: (Prior) de Beuver (Nottinghamshire), or Beauver (Leicestershire); John de Beauver, Yorkshire; and Thurstan de Beauver, Yorkshire. 4

Another early roll notes: John de Beauver, Yorkshire, Henry III-Edward I: Testa de Nevill, sive Liber Feodorum, temp. Henry III-Edward I. 5

Early History of the Beevor family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Beevor research. Another 81 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Beevor History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Beevor Spelling Variations

Norman surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. The frequent changes in surnames are largely due to the fact that the Old and Middle English languages lacked definite spelling rules. The introduction of Norman French to England, as well as the official court languages of Latin and French, also had pronounced influences on the spelling of surnames. Since medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, rather than adhering to any specific spelling rules, it was common to find the same individual referred to with different spellings. The name has been spelled Beaver, Beavor, Beavers, Beavors, Beavoirs, Beevers and many more.

Early Notables of the Beevor family

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

Beevor migration to Australia +

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

Beevor Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

James Rigby Beevor, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "City Of Adelaide" in 1839 6
Mary Beevor, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "William Stevenson" in 1850 7

Contemporary Notables of the name Beevor (post 1700) +

Charles Edward Beevor (1854-1908), English neurologist and anatomist
Antony James Beevor (b. 1946), British historian, professor at the University of London

Citations +

The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. 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)
Testa de Nevill or "Liber Feodorum" or "Book of Fees," thought to have been written by Ralph de Nevill, for King John (1199–1216)
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) CITY OF ADELAIDE 1839. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1839CityOfAdelaide.htm
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) WILLIAM STEVENSON 1850. Retrieved http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1850WmStevenson.gif