Berkewith History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Berkewith is a name whose history on English soil dates back to the wave of migration that followed the Norman Conquest of England of 1066. The Berkewith family lived in the town of Barkwith, in the county of Lincolnshire.

Early Origins of the Berkewith family

The surname Berkewith was first found in Lincolnshire, where they held a family seat from ancient times.

Early History of the Berkewith family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Berkewith research. Another 106 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1086, 1600 and 1601 are included under the topic Early Berkewith History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Berkewith Spelling Variations

Anglo-Norman names are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. When the Normans became the ruling people of England in the 11th century, they introduced a new language into a society where the main languages of Old and later Middle English had no definite spelling rules. These languages were more often spoken than written, so they blended freely with one another. Contributing to this mixing of tongues was the fact that medieval scribes spelled words according to sound, ensuring that a person's name would appear differently in nearly every document in which it was recorded. The name has been spelled Barksworth, Backwith, Backworth, Barkworth, Barkwith, Barkworse and many more.

Early Notables of the Berkewith family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Mark Barkworth or Lambert (d. 1601), a Benedictine monk, native of Lincolnshire who converted to the Catholic faith at the age of twenty-two. "After being admitted to holy orders he was...
Another 39 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Berkewith Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Berkewith family

For many English families, the political and religious disarray that plagued their homeland made the frontiers of the New World an attractive prospect. Thousands migrated, aboard cramped disease-ridden ships. They arrived sick, poor, and hungry, but were welcomed in many cases with far greater opportunity than at home in England. Many of these hardy settlers went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Among early immigrants bearing the name Berkewith or a variant listed above were: John Barkeworth who settled in Virginia in 1654.

The Berkewith 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: Esto quod esse videris
Motto Translation: Be what you seem to be.