Show ContentsBettredge History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The origins of the Bettredge surname lie with the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. The name Bettredge began when someone in that family worked as a hunter or someone who caught partridges. Occupational names that were derived from the common trades of the medieval era transcended European cultural and linguistic boundaries. Occupational names have remained fairly common in the modern period. This is attested to by the continuing appearance of occupational suffixes at the end of many English surnames. Some of these suffixes include: herd, monger, maker, hewer, smith, and wright.

Early Origins of the Bettredge family

The surname Bettredge was first found in Kent. However, the parish of Miserden, Yorkshire tells an important story of the family's early lineage. "The manor of Wishanger, here, is of very ancient date, and was the seat of the Partriges, of whom William Partrige, of Cirencester and Wishanger, was summoned by the heralds at their first visitation of the county in the reign of Henry VIII.; from him the manor descended lineally for ten generations, and it was the principal seat of the family until the commencement of the present century, when it was sold. The manor-house, though partly taken down and otherwise injured, is still standing, as a farmhouse; the porch bears the arms of Partrige impaling those of Ernley of Wiltshire, on a large stone over the entrance, Robert Partrige having married into the Ernley family in the 16th century." 1

Early History of the Bettredge family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bettredge research. Another 74 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1451, 1544, 1546, 1547, 1551, 1552, 1566, 1603, 1635, 1644, 1675, 1680, 1686, 1703, 1710, 1715 and 1748 are included under the topic Early Bettredge History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bettredge Spelling Variations

One 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 Bettredge has appeared include Partridge, Pettridge, Patridge, Patrige, Partrich and others.

Early Notables of the Bettredge family

Distinguished members of the family include Peter Partridge (d. 1451), Chancellor of Lincoln Cathedral, was educated at Oxford University; and Sir Miles Partridge (d. 1552), English courtier, relative of William Partridge of Wishanger in Miserden, Gloucestershire. Sheriff of Gloucestershire (1546-1547.) He held the manor of Almondsbury in 1544. He was convicted of felony, and hanged on Tower Hill on Friday 26 Feb. 1551. John Partridge (fl. 1566), was an English translator and...
Another 70 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Bettredge Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Bettredge family

At 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 Bettredge arrived in North America very early: John Partridge, who arrived in Virginia in 1615; Richard Partridge, who arrived in Virginia in 1620; Joe Partridge, who settled in Virginia in 1635; Mary Partridge, who arrived in Massachusetts in 1636.



  1. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.


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