Betchwithey History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Betchwithey is a name that was brought to England by the ancestors of the Betchwithey family when they migrated to the region after the Norman Conquest in 1066. The Betchwithey family lived in Surrey, where they held a family seat from very early times at the village of Betsworth.

Early Origins of the Betchwithey family

The surname Betchwithey was first found in Surrey where they held a family seat from very early times and were granted lands by Duke William of Normandy, their liege Lord, for their distinguished assistance at the Battle of Hastings in 1066 A.D. They were conjecturally descended from Richard FitzGilbert, a Norman noble who was granted the Old Mill and Church at Becesworde (Betchworth) at Betworth, later to become known as Betsworth in that shire. The Church still has eleventh century fragments and the Old Mill was rebuilt in the 16th century.

Early History of the Betchwithey family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Betchwithey research. Another 91 words (6 lines of text) covering the year 1726 is included under the topic Early Betchwithey History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Betchwithey 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 Betsworth, Betesworth, Bettesworth, Betchworth and many more.

Early Notables of the Betchwithey family

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

Migration of the Betchwithey family

Many English families emigrated to North American colonies in order to escape the political chaos in Britain at this time. Unfortunately, many English families made the trip to the New World 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 stormy Atlantic. Despite these hardships, many of the families prospered and went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the United States and Canada. Early North American immigration records have revealed a number of people bearing the name Betchwithey or a variant listed above: Francis Betsworth who settled in Virginia in 1780.

The Betchwithey 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: En Dieu est mon espoir
Motto Translation: In God is my hope.