Biddeswork History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The name Biddeswork arrived in England after the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Biddeswork family lived in Surrey, where they held a family seat from very early times at the village of Betsworth.

Early Origins of the Biddeswork family

The surname Biddeswork 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 Biddeswork family

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

Biddeswork Spelling Variations

Anglo-Norman names are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. When the Normans became the ruling people of England in the 11th century, they introduced a new language into a society where the main languages of Old and later Middle English had no definite spelling rules. These languages were more often spoken than written, so they blended freely with one another. Contributing to this mixing of tongues was the fact that medieval scribes spelled words according to sound, ensuring that a person's name would appear differently in nearly every document in which it was recorded. The name has been spelled Betsworth, Betesworth, Bettesworth, Betchworth and many more.

Early Notables of the Biddeswork family

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

Migration of the Biddeswork family

For many English families, the political and religious disarray that plagued their homeland made the frontiers of the New World an attractive prospect. Thousands migrated, aboard cramped disease-ridden ships. They arrived sick, poor, and hungry, but were welcomed in many cases with far greater opportunity than at home in England. Many of these hardy settlers went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Among early immigrants bearing the name Biddeswork or a variant listed above were: Francis Betsworth who settled in Virginia in 1780.

The Biddeswork 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.