Bett History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The Bett surname finds its earliest origins with the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. Their name is derived from one of a number of personal names. The surname Bett is usually explained as a metronymic derivative of the female personal name Beatrice, or less often, Elizabeth. 1

However, the name is undoubtedly occasionally derived from the male personal name Bartholomew, which also took the variant forms Bertram or Bertelmew. The surname Bett may also be a "local" type surname which means a dweller by the hollows.

Early Origins of the Bett family

The surname Bett was first found in Norfolk, where they held a family seat from ancient times, long before the Norman Conquest in 1066.

"One of the principal stocks of the old and characteristic Norfolk name of Betts included the family that possessed, in the 15th and 16th centuries, the manors of Hastings Hall and Whitefoot in Irmingland. This name is also well represented in Lincolnshire, where it usually takes the form of Bett; it is also present, though less numerous, in the other east coast counties of Suffolk and Kent." 2

Early History of the Bett family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bett research. Another 178 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1200, 1379, 1480, 1500, 1570, 1576, 1581, 1590, 1642, 1643, 1646, 1647, 1695, 1743, 1770, 1905 and 1912 are included under the topic Early Bett History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bett Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Bett are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Bett include: Betts, Bets, Bettes, Bett, Bette and others.

Early Notables of the Bett family

Notables of the family at this time include

John Bettes (d. 1570?), an English miniature painter, commonly stated to have been a pupil of Nicholas Hilliard. "Bettes painted a miniature in oils of Queen Elizabeth, which is said to have been high...
John Betts (d. 1695), was an English physician and son of "Edward Betts by his wife Dorothy, daughter of John Venables of Rapley in Hampshire. He was born at Winchester, and educated there in grammar...

Bett migration to the United States +

Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Bett or a variant listed above:

Bett Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Robert Bett, who settled in Virginia in 1653

Bett Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

T. W. Bett, who settled in Baltimore Maryland in 1822
Anna Maria Bett, aged 27, who landed in New York, NY in 1849 3
Christina Bett, aged 14, who arrived in New York, NY in 1849 3
Lewis Bett, aged 28, who arrived in New York, NY in 1849 3
Mathew Bett, aged 18, who landed in New York, NY in 1849 3
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Bett Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Johan Bett, who landed in America, in 1904
John Bett, who immigrated to the United States, in 1905
Eva Hinkley Bett, aged 22, who settled in America, in 1906
David Bett, aged 28, who immigrated to the United States from So Quen Ferry, Scotland, in 1906
John Bett, aged 26, who landed in America from Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1907
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Bett (post 1700) +

Richard Arnot Home Bett, American professor, Acting Executive Director of the American Philosophical Association
Darren Victor Bett (b. 1968), English weather forecaster for the BBC
Mark Bett Kipkinyor (b. 1976), Kenyan long-distance runner
Calum Bett (b. 1981), Icelandic football player
Baldur Bett (b. 1980), Icelandic footballer
James "Jim" Bett (b. 1959), Scottish former professional footballer
Emily Bett Rickards (b. 1991), Canadian Leo Award nominated actress, known for her roles in Arrow (2012), Dakota's Summer (2014) and Flicka: Country Pride (2012)

The Bett 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: Ostendo non ostento
Motto Translation: I show, not boast.

Citations +

Arthur, William , An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. London: 1857. Print
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
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)