Bettiswith History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The name Bettiswith was brought to England by the Normans when they conquered the country in 1066. The ancestors of the Bettiswith family lived in Surrey, where they held a family seat from very early times at the village of Betsworth.

Early Origins of the Bettiswith family

The surname Bettiswith 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 Bettiswith family

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

Bettiswith Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, Anglo-Norman surnames like Bettiswith are characterized by many spelling variations. Scribes and monks in the Middle Ages spelled names they sounded, so it is common to find several variations that refer to a single person. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages such as Norman French and Latin, even literate people regularly changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Bettiswith include Betsworth, Betesworth, Bettesworth, Betchworth and many more.

Early Notables of the Bettiswith family

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

Migration of the Bettiswith family

Faced with the chaos present in England at that time, many English families looked towards the open frontiers of the New World with its opportunities to escape oppression and starvation. People migrated to North America, as well as Australia and Ireland in droves, paying exorbitant rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, but those who did see the shores of North America were welcomed with great opportunity. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America carried the name Bettiswith, or a variant listed above: Francis Betsworth who settled in Virginia in 1780.

The Bettiswith 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.