Bettrege History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Bettrege is a name that was formed by the Anglo-Saxon society of old Britain. The name was thought to have been used for someone who once 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 Bettrege family

The surname Bettrege 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 Bettrege family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bettrege 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 Bettrege History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bettrege Spelling Variations

Until the dictionary, an invention of only the last few hundred years, the English language lacked any comprehensive system of spelling rules. Consequently, spelling variations in names are frequently found in early Anglo-Saxon and later Anglo-Norman documents. One person's name was often spelled several different ways over a lifetime. The recorded variations of Bettrege include Partridge, Pettridge, Patridge, Patrige, Partrich and others.

Early Notables of the Bettrege 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 Bettrege Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Bettrege family

Thousands of English families boarded ships sailing to the New World in the hope of escaping the unrest found in England at this time. Although the search for opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad took the lives of many because of the cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels, the opportunity perceived in the growing colonies of North America beckoned. Many of the settlers who survived the journey went on to make important contributions to the transplanted cultures of their adopted countries. The Bettrege were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records: 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.

Citations +

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