Beckwith History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms 

Origins Available: 
  England 


The Anglo-Saxon name Beckwith comes from when the family resided at Beckwith in the Yorkshire parish of Pannal, and it is from this location that the name Beckwith is derived. The distinguished name Beckwith is derived from the Old English word bece, which means beech, and the Old Norse word vior, which means wood. Thus the surname Beckwith indicates the proximity of the town to a grove of beech trees. 1 The name of Beckwith is said to have been changed from Malbie in the 12th century. 2

Early Origins of the Beckwith family

The surname Beckwith was first found in Yorkshire, where "most of the armigerous families of the name spring from, and Beckwith, a hamlet in the parish of Pannal, in that county, is probably the cradle of the race. " 2 The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 include: Willelmus Bekwyt; Willelmus de Bekwyth; and Johannes de Bekwyth. 3 Later records show Richard Bekwyth in 1415 and Adam Bekwith who was a Freeman of York in 1423. 4

"Amongst the old West Riding [of Yorkshire] names, now less frequently represented, is that of Beckwith, which was originally derived from a hamlet in that division of the county. The Beckwiths were a very numerous race, the main stock being settled at a very early period at Clint in Ripley, where it flourished until the close of the 16th century; the Beckwiths of Aldborough during the 17th and 18th centuries, who belonged to the Clint stock, received a baronetcy." 5

This hamlet in the parish of Pannall, near Harrogate saw an exodus like many places in England in the 17th century. Many settled in Boston including "Robert Beckwith, went out in 1635 in the Transport, bound for Virginia." 6

Early History of the Beckwith family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Beckwith research. Another 58 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1759, 1780, 1788, 1794, 1808, 1809, 1819 and 1828 are included under the topic Early Beckwith History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Beckwith Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, French and other languages became incorporated into English through the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Beckwith include Beckwith, Beckworth, Beckworthe and others.

Early Notables of the Beckwith family

Notables of the family at this time include

Beckwith Ranking

In the United States, the name Beckwith is the 2,943rd most popular surname with an estimated 9,948 people with that name. 7


Beckwith migration to the United States +

A great wave of immigration to the New World was the result of the enormous political and religious disarray that struck England at that time. Families left for the New World in extremely large numbers. The long journey was the end of many immigrants and many more arrived sick and starving. Still, those who made it were rewarded with an opportunity far greater than they had known at home in England. These emigrant families went on to make significant contributions to these emerging colonies in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers carried this name or one of its variants:

Beckwith Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
Beckwith Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
Beckwith Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Beckwith migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Beckwith Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Beckwith migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Beckwith Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Contemporary Notables of the name Beckwith (post 1700) +


The Beckwith 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: Jouir en bien
Motto Translation: To enjoy innocent


Suggested Readings for the name Beckwith +
Fastest Delivery Possible

Digital Products on Checkout, all other products filled in 1 business day

Money Back Guarantee

Yes, all products 100% Guraranteed

BBB A+ Rating

The Best Rating possible

Secure Online Payment

Entire site uses SSL / Secure Certificate