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![Show Contents]() Besson History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 England France
The history of the Besson family goes back to the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. It is derived from the family living at Beeston Castle, in the county of Cheshire. Beeston is also a village near Leeds. Bayston Hill is a large village and civil parish in central Shropshire. Early Origins of the Besson familyThe surname Besson was first found in Cheshire, at Beeston, a township, in the parish of Bunbury, union of Nantwich, First division of the hundred of Eddisbury. "This place takes its name from a castle founded by Ranulph de Blundeville, about 1220, and which was made a royal garrison in the war between Henry III. and the confederate barons. Of the ancient mansion of the Beeston family, who long resided here, there are but small remains." 1 "The Shropshire Beestons possess the name of more than one Cheshire parish: they are also represented in Derbyshire and Stafford." 2 Early rolls revealed the family was scattered throughout ancient England in early times. William Bestone was listed in Norfolk in 1153-1166; Andrew de Bieston was entered in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1203; and Ralph de Bestune was listed in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 in Cheshire. William Besteton and Ralph Biesteton were listed in Hampshire c. 1248. Yorkshire had more records in various rolls: Herbert de Beston in the Assize Rolls of 1219; and Richard de Bestayn was listed as holding lands there in 1297. 3 The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 list: Radulphus de Beston, Esquier, of Beeston; Willelmiis de Beston; and Johannes de Beeston. 4 John Beston (d. 1428), was a theological writer, Prior of the Carmelite convent at Bishop's Lynn, and a doctor in theology both of Cambridge and Paris. "He was highly esteemed as a theologian and a philosopher, and also as a preacher. " 5 Early History of the Besson familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Besson research. Another 111 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1579, 1606, 1636, 1638, 1682, 1702, 1711 and 1793 are included under the topic Early Besson History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Besson Spelling VariationsUntil quite recently, the English language has lacked a definite system of spelling rules. Consequently, Anglo-Saxon surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. Changes in Anglo-Saxon names were influenced by the evolution of the English language, as it incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other languages. Although Medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, so it is common to find one person referred to by several different spellings of his surname, even the most literate people varied the spelling of their own names. Variations of the name Besson include Beeston, Beaston, Beeson, Beason, Beestoun, Beson and many more. Early Notables of the Besson familyAnother 46 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Besson Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Besson RankingIn France, the name Besson is the 217th most popular surname with an estimated 16,245 people with that name. 6
 Besson migration to the United States | + |
Searching for a better life, many English families migrated to British colonies. Unfortunately, the majority of them traveled under extremely harsh conditions: overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the ocean. For those families that arrived safely, modest prosperity was attainable, and many went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the new colonies. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Besson or a variant listed above:
Besson Settlers in United States in the 17th Century- Tho Besson, who arrived in Virginia in 1638 7
- Thomas Besson, who landed in Maryland in 1649 7
- Hestor Besson, who arrived in Maryland in 1650 7
- Stephen Besson, who landed in Maryland in 1662 7
Besson Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- Margaretha Besson, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1805 7
| Besson migration to Canada | + |
Some of the first settlers of this family name were: Besson Settlers in Canada in the 17th Century- Mr. Jean Besson, (b. 1619), aged 23, French settler travelling to Canada for work arriving on 1st April 1642 8
| Contemporary Notables of the name Besson (post 1700) | + |
- General Frank Schaffer Besson Jr. (1910-1985), American Chairman of the Joint Logistics Review Board (1969-1970) 9
- Gérard Anthony Besson HBM, DLitt. h.c. (1942-2023), Trinidadian writer and publisher
- Jacques de Besson, Baron d'Ormeschwiller, French Brigadier General during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars from 1789 to 1815 10
- General Antoine-Marie-Benoit Besson (1876-1969), French Director of Prisoner of War Service 11
- Albert Besson (1896-1965), French hygienist, physician, and member of the French Academy of Medicine
- Jacques Besson (1535-1575), French mathematician
- Gustave Auguste Besson (1820-1874), French brass instrument maker
- Colette Besson (1946-2005), French Olympic athlete
- Benno Besson (1922-2006), Swiss actor and film director
- Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
- Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. 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)
- Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
- http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
- Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
- Debien, Gabriel. Liste Des Engagés Pour Le Canada Au XVIIe Siècle. Vol. 6, Laval University, 1952. (Retreived 24th May 2018). Retrieved from https://lebloguedeguyperron.wordpress.com/2016/06/30/130-liste-des-contrats-dengagement-pour-la-nouvelle-france-releves-a-la-rochelle-entre-1634-et-1679/
- Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2011, October 6) Frank Besson. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Besson/Frank_Schaffer_Jr./USA.html
- Generals Who Served in the French Army during the Period 1789-1815. (Retrieved 2015, February 11) Jacques Besson. Retrieved from http://www.napoleon-series.org/research/c_frenchgenerals.html
- Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2011, October 3) Antoine-Marie-Benoit Besson. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Besson/Antoine-Marie-Benoit/France.html
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Besson migration to the United States 
Besson migration to Canada 
