Early Origins of the Beachcraft family
The surname Beachcraft was first found in
Yorkshire, where the name is derived from the Old English words "beo" + "croft," (a small field) collectively meaning "dweller at the bee-croft."
[1]CITATION[CLOSE]
Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print Another source notes the name could have been derived from a geographical locality as "at the berecroft," or "at the barley-croft." The surname is "evidently a Yorkshire local surname as no instances [were found] in the London church registers printed by the Harleian Society." [2]CITATION[CLOSE]
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
The first records of the family were Walter de Bercroft and Matilda Bercroft who were listed in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 as holding lands at that time in Yorkshire.
Later, the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 listed Johannes de Bercroft; and Willelmus de Bercroft. [2]CITATION[CLOSE]
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Early History of the Beachcraft family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Beachcraft research.
Another 146 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1587, 1700 and 1710 are included under the topic Early Beachcraft History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Beachcraft Spelling Variations
Although the name, Beachcraft, appeared in many references, from time to time, the surname was shown with the spellings Beecroft, Becroft, Becraft, Bearcroft and others.
Early Notables of the Beachcraft family (pre 1700)
More information is included under the topic Early Beachcraft Notables in all our
PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Beachcraft family to Ireland
Some of the Beachcraft family moved to
Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 169 words (12 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Beachcraft family to the New World and Oceana
Gradually becoming disenchanted with life in
Ireland many of these uprooted families sailed aboard the armada of sailing ships known as the "White Sails" which plied the stormy Atlantic. These overcrowded ships often arrived with only 60 to 70% of their original passenger list, many dying of cholera, typhoid, dysentery or small pox. In North America, some of the first immigrants who could be considered kinsmen of the Beachcraft family name Beachcraft, or who bore a variation of the surname were E. J. Beecraft arrived in San Francisco, California, in 1750.