Bethurst History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The Bethurst name has descended through the generations from the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. Their name comes from having lived in the ancient manor named Bathurst, which was located near Battel Abbey in the county of Sussex.

Early Origins of the Bethurst family

The surname Bethurst was first found in Sussex, where they held a family seat from ancient times, long before the Norman Conquest of 1066. The first record was in Bathurst, of that shire, not far from Battle Abbey which contains the records of the Battle of Hastings.

The church in the parish of Mixbury in Oxfordshire played an important role in the family's lineage. "The church has a Norman doorway with zigzag mouldings, leading into the south aisle; the nave and chancel are separated by a large Norman arch, and at the east end of the north aisle is the burial-place of the Bathurst family. Here are some remains of an ancient fortification, originally surrounded by a moat, and by the Normans called Beaumont." 1

Another branch of the family was found at Kirby Horton in Kent in early days. "Franks, the seat of the Bathurst family since the commencement of the reign of Elizabeth, is situated on the bank of the Darent, which flows through the village." 1 Monuments of the family can also be found in the church of Laverstock in Wiltshire.

Early History of the Bethurst family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bethurst research. Another 89 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1607, 1620, 1659, 1684, 1704, 1712, 1772, 1775 and 1889 are included under the topic Early Bethurst History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bethurst Spelling Variations

Only recently has spelling become standardized in the English language. As the English language evolved in the Middle Ages, the spelling of names changed also. The name Bethurst has undergone many spelling variations, including Bathurst, Bathirst, Bothurst, Bethurst, Bothirst, Bathurrst, Bathurste, Bathurstt, Baithurst, Beathurst, Baathurst, Bauthurst, Bathearst, Bathearste and many more.

Early Notables of the Bethurst family

Another 47 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Bethurst Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Bethurst family to Ireland

Some of the Bethurst family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Bethurst family

To escape the unstable social climate in England of this time, many families boarded ships for the New World with the hope of finding land, opportunity, and greater religious and political freedom. Although the voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, those families that arrived often found greater opportunities and freedoms than they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make significant contributions to the rapidly developing colonies in which they settled. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Bethurst were among those contributors: Sir Francis Bathurst who settled in Georgia in 1734; with his wife, Frances, three daughters, and son Robert; Charles Bathurst settled in Pennsylvania in 1682.

The Bethurst 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: Tien ta foy
Motto Translation: Kepp thy faith.