Show ContentsBeathurst History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The ancient roots of the Beathurst family name are in the Anglo-Saxon culture. The name Beathurst comes from when the family lived in the ancient manor named Bathurst, which was located near Battel Abbey in the county of Sussex.

Early Origins of the Beathurst family

The surname Beathurst was first found in Sussex, where they held a family seat from ancient times, long before the Norman Conquest of 1066. The first record was in Bathurst, of that shire, not far from Battle Abbey which contains the records of the Battle of Hastings.

The church in the parish of Mixbury in Oxfordshire played an important role in the family's lineage. "The church has a Norman doorway with zigzag mouldings, leading into the south aisle; the nave and chancel are separated by a large Norman arch, and at the east end of the north aisle is the burial-place of the Bathurst family. Here are some remains of an ancient fortification, originally surrounded by a moat, and by the Normans called Beaumont." 1

Another branch of the family was found at Kirby Horton in Kent in early days. "Franks, the seat of the Bathurst family since the commencement of the reign of Elizabeth, is situated on the bank of the Darent, which flows through the village." 1 Monuments of the family can also be found in the church of Laverstock in Wiltshire.

Early History of the Beathurst family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Beathurst research. Another 89 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1607, 1620, 1659, 1684, 1704, 1712, 1772, 1775 and 1889 are included under the topic Early Beathurst History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Beathurst 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 Beathurst has appeared include Bathurst, Bathirst, Bothurst, Bethurst, Bothirst, Bathurrst, Bathurste, Bathurstt, Baithurst, Beathurst, Baathurst, Bauthurst, Bathearst, Bathearste and many more.

Early Notables of the Beathurst family

Another 47 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Beathurst Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Beathurst family to Ireland

Some of the Beathurst family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Beathurst 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 Beathurst arrived in North America very early: Sir Francis Bathurst who settled in Georgia in 1734; with his wife, Frances, three daughters, and son Robert; Charles Bathurst settled in Pennsylvania in 1682.



The Beathurst 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: Tien ta foy
Motto Translation: Kepp thy faith.


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


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