Bemister History, Family Crest & Coats of ArmsEarly Origins of the Bemister familyThe surname Bemister was first found in Normandy where the family was formerly Beaumis, Beaumeys, or Beametz and are from Beaumetz, near Abbeville. Today this is a commune in the Somme department in the Picardie (Picardy) region of northern France. When they arrived in Britain is not known but one can safely assume shortly after the Conquest as Richard de Belmiz, Viscount of Salop (Shropshire) witnessed a charter in 1087 of Salop Abbey. Richards be Beaumez witnessed a charter of Henry I., in 1124. Richard be Belmiz was Bishop of London in 1172. 1 The stronghold of the family was in Durham at Beamish, a township, in the chapelry of Tanfield, parish of Chester-Le-Street, union of Lanchester, Middle division of Chester ward. The place name dates back to 1288 when it was first listed as Bewmys and literally meant "beautiful mansion." from the Old French words "beau" + "mes." 2 "It stands in the wooded vale of Team, which expands itself near the house of Beamish into a fine strath. The mansion, which contains some curious old portraits, is one of the best family residences in the county." 3 Beamish Hall was originally built as a present in 1268 for the wedding of Isabella de la Leigh and Guiscard de Charron. The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 list: Robert de Beaumeis, alias Beaumeis in Cambridgeshire; Roger de Beaumes in Shropshire; and Agnes be Beaumeys in Huntingdonshire. 4 Again in Shropshire, we found Richard de Beames, de Belmes in the Pipe Rolls for 1191-1192. And later Robert de Beaumeis was found in the Feet of Fines for Huntingdonshire in 1208. 5 Early History of the Bemister familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bemister research. Another 62 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1797, 1816, 1823, 1825, 1872 and 1950 are included under the topic Early Bemister History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Bemister Spelling VariationsAlthough the name, Bemister, appeared in many references, from time to time, the surname was shown with the spellings Beamish, Beemish, Beames and others. Early Notables of the Bemister familyNotable amongst the family name during their early history was North Ludlow Beamish (1797-1872), military writer and antiquary, the son of William Beamish, Esq., of Beaumont House, co. Cork, and was born on 31 Dec. 1797. In November 1816 he obtained a commission in the 4th royal Irish dragoon guards, in which corps he purchased a troop in 1823. In 1825 he published an English translation of a small cavalry manual written... Migration of the Bemister family to IrelandSome of the Bemister family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. Migration of the Bemister familyGradually becoming disenchanted with life in Ireland many of these uprooted families sailed aboard the armada of sailing ships known as the "White Sails" which plied the stormy Atlantic. These overcrowded ships often arrived with only 60 to 70% of their original passenger list, many dying of cholera, typhoid, dysentery or small pox. In North America, some of the first immigrants who could be considered kinsmen of the Bemister family name Bemister, or who bore a variation of the surname were Charles Beamish who settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1832; William Beames who settled in Boston Massachusetts in 1651; Robert Beames who settled in Barbados and Jamaica in 1688.
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