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![Show Contents]() Betemend History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 England
The origins of the Betemend surname lie with the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. The name Betemend began when someone in that family worked as a person hired to pray for another's soul after his death. The surname Betemend is derived from the Old English terms bede, which means prayer, and man, which means man. In medieval England, there were also beadhouses, or almshouses for the poor, where the inhabitants were required to pray for their benefactors. In a publication by Skelton in 1528, he wrote of Other smale mynisters, as reders and singers, bedemen and bellringers. Early Origins of the Betemend familyThe surname Betemend was first found in Somerset, where they held a family seat from the Middle Ages. Lawrence Bedeman or Stevine (fl. 1372-1410), was a supporter of Wycliffe who appears first, in 1372, as a scholar of Stapeldon Hall. He was ultimately rector, holding this office from 1379 to 1380. After this he was made rector of Lifton, in Devonshire, and held this benefice as late as 11 June 1410, when he was licensed to preach in Latin or English. 1 Early History of the Betemend familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Betemend research. Another 200 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1327, 1372, 1381, 1410, 1500, 1659 and 1793 are included under the topic Early Betemend History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Betemend Spelling VariationsOne relatively recent invention that did much to standardize English spelling was the printing press. However, before its invention even the most literate people recorded their names according to sound rather than spelling. The spelling variations under which the name Betemend has appeared include Beadman, Bedman, Bedeman, Bedemon, Beadmann and many more. Early Notables of the Betemend familyAnother 42 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Betemend Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Betemend familyAt this time, the shores of the New World beckoned many English families that felt that the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. Thousands left England at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. A great portion of these settlers never survived the journey and even a greater number arrived sick, starving, and without a penny. The survivors, however, were often greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. These English settlers made significant contributions to those colonies that would eventually become the United States and Canada. An examination of early immigration records and passenger ship lists revealed that people bearing the name Betemend arrived in North America very early: Elizabeth Beadman who arrived in Virginia in 1650.
- Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
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