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![Show Contents]() Bethany History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The Welsh name Bethany is a patronymic surname created from the Welsh personal name Ithel. The surname Bethany features the distinctive Welsh patronymic prefix "ab" or "ap," which mean "son of." The original form of the name was ab-Ithell, but the prefix has been assimilated into the surname over the course of time. 1 Early Origins of the Bethany familyThe surname Bethany was first found in Herefordshire, where they held a family seat from ancient times. However, some of the family were found at Watton in the East Riding of Yorkshire at early times. "A great part of the soil belongs to Richard Bethell, Esq., whose family were long seated at Walton Abbey, a brick mansion in the Tudor style, with octagonal turrets, stone dressings and buttresses, and fine gardens attached; it is now, by permission of Mr. Bethell, the residence of the incumbent." 2 Early History of the Bethany familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bethany research. Another 183 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1400, 1606, 1615, 1617, 1622, 1637, 1649, 1654, 1659, 1660, 1668, 1679, 1697 and 1820 are included under the topic Early Bethany History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Bethany Spelling VariationsCompared to other ancient cultures found in the British Isles, the number of Welsh surnames are relatively few, but there are an inordinately large number of spelling variations. These spelling variations began almost as soon as surname usage became common. People could not specify how to spell their own names leaving the specific recording up to the individual scribe or priest. Those recorders would then spell the names as they heard them, causing many different variations. Later, many Welsh names were recorded in English. This transliteration process was extremely imprecise since the Brythonic Celtic language of the Welsh used many sounds the English language was not accustomed to. Finally, some variations occurred by the individual's design: a branch loyalty within a family, a religious adherence, or even patriotic affiliations were indicated by spelling variations of one's name. The Bethany name over the years has been spelled Bethel, Bethell, Bithel, Bithell, Bythell, Bythel and others. Early Notables of the Bethany familyProminent amongst the family during the late Middle Ages was Sir Walter Bethell (died 1622); Henry Bethall (c 1606-1668), an English politician who sat in the House of Commons in 1660; and Hugh Bethell (1615-1679), an English politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1654 and 1679.
Slingsby Bethel (1617-1697), was an English politician from Alne, North Yorkshire. He "was the third son of Sir Walter Bethel of Alne, Yorkshire, who married Mary, the second daughter of Sir Henry Slingsby of Scriven...
Another 82 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Bethany Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Bethany familyMany people from Wales joined the general migration to North America in the 19th and 20th centuries, searching for land, work, and freedom. Like the many other immigrants from the British Isles, they made a significant contribution to the development of Canada and the United States. The Welsh and their descendents added a rich cultural tradition to the newly developed towns, cities, and villages. An investigation of the immigration and passenger lists has revealed a number of people bearing the name Bethany: James Bethell who settled in Virginia in 1635; William Bethell, who settled in Virginia in 1653; Hugh Bethel, who arrived in Virginia in 1690; Thomas Bethel, his wife Rebecca, and their daughter Rebecca who all came to Virginia in 1714.
| Contemporary Notables of the name Bethany (post 1700) | + |
- Bethany Campbell (1941-2022), pen-name of Sally McCluskey, an American three-time Rita Award winning writer of romance novels
- Bethany Moura (b. 1976), Member of the Rhode Island State Senate
- Bethany Sketchley, American actress, known for The Bench: Chapter Seven-Grace and Mary (2014), Sister (2015) and Oliver Twisted (2013)
- Bethany Kaster (b. 1984), Canadian assistant editor and post-production assistant, known for her work on What's Up Warthogs! (2010), Pride of Lions (2014) and Recipe to Riches (2011)
- Bethany 'Beth' Langston (b. 1992), English cricketer
- Bethany Kennedy Scanlon (b. 1975), American Christian author and speaker
- Bethany Beardslee (b. 1927), American soprano
- Bethany Yarrow, singer, songwriter, arranger, producer
- Bethany Joy Lenz-Galeotti, American television actress
- Bethany M. Barnett, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Ohio, 2008 3
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: Ap Ithel
Motto Translation: Son of Ithel
- Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
- Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
- The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, December 11) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
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