Wishlist
Menu
Cart
HouseofNames
Wishlist
Cart

Show ContentsBeaton History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
Product

Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

4.9 Average Rating

The ancestors of the Beaton family come from the ancient Scottish kingdom of Dalriada. The family name comes from the names of Macbeth and Bethune, or Beaton. The Macbeth and Bethune families, who were hereditary physicians to the Chiefs of Macdonald, practiced medicine on the Isles during the Middle Ages and their names merged in English into the one surname of Beaton. The Macbeths were concentrated in Islay and Mull, whereas the Beatons were concentrated in Skye.

However, the Beaton family was not restricted to the Isles and it later branched to other counties such as Fraser. Nonetheless, by the 17th century, the Beaton family "ceased to practice the healing art" and the last of the hereditary physicians was Niel Beaton who practiced medicine in about 1763. 1

One source notes the Norman source of the family. "They claim descent from the house of Bethune, Barons of Bethune in Artois, Advocates or Protectors of Arras. This family was descended from the Carlovingian Counts of Artois, and ranked amongst the most potent and illustrious houses in Europe. The great Duke of Sully was one of its descendants. The Advocates of Arras possessed a barony in England from the Conquest, and left numerous descendants here. From the line of St. Omer, a branch of the same house, descended the Bagots, and Staffords, Duke of Buckingham in England, and many branches bearing the names of St. Omer and Arras." 2

Early Origins of the Beaton family

The surname Beaton was first found in the Isle of Islay, where the first of the Islay family on record is Fercos Macbetha, who witnessed and probably wrote the Gaelic charter of 1408. Gilchristus M'Veig, surrigicus or surgeon in Islay is in record. Fergus M'Baithe in 1609 received from James VI certain lands in Islay in his official capacity as "principalis medici intra bordas Insularum," chief physician within the bounds of the Isles. His son, John Macbeath, succeeds in 1628 to the lands, but gave them over to the Thane of Cawdor in following year. The words "Leabar Giolla Colaim Meigbethadh" (book of Malcolm Macbeth) axe written on one of the Gaelic manuscripts in the National Library of Scotland, glossed in the same hand "Liber Malcolml Betune"

The Mull Beatons or Betons were hereditary physicians to the Macleans of Dowart. In 1572 Hector MacLaine of Dowart granted a charter to Andrew MacDonil Vikinollif (i.e. son of the doctor) and his heirs of the peuyland of Piencross and Brolas for his skill in the medical art. Martin says that Dr. Beaton was sitting on the upper deck of the "Florida" of the Spanish Armada when it blew up in Tobermory Bay in 1588 and he was thrown a good way off, but lived several years after. 1

In England, the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 included: Johannes Beton; Beton de Wath; and Beton, servant of Robert, filius Ade. The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 had only one listing, that of John Betun, Oxfordshire. 3

John Betoun was listed in Colchester in 1311 and Richard Beton was found in the Subsidy Rolls of Derbyshire in 1327. Interestingly, the name is "still used as a Christian name in Cornwall in 1630." 4

Early History of the Beaton family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Beaton research. Another 347 words (25 lines of text) covering the years 1473, 1494, 1519, 1539, 1543, 1546, 1558, 1569, 1589, 1598, 1600, 1622, 1763 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Beaton History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Beaton Spelling Variations

Historical recordings of the name Beaton include many spelling variations. They are the result of repeated translations of the name from Gaelic to English and inconsistencies in spelling rules. They include Beaton, Beeton, MacBeth, MacBeaton, McBee, MacBee and others.

Early Notables of the Beaton family

Notable amongst the Clan from early times was

  • Janet Beaton, Lady of Branxholme and Buccleugh (1519-1569) an aristocratic Scottish woman, mistress of James Hepburn, Earl of Bothwell, had five husbands and was accused of being a witch, immortalized...
  • Cardinal David Beaton (c.1494-1546), Archbishop of St Andrews and the last Scottish Cardinal prior to the Reformation
  • Mary Beaton (1543-1598), Scottish noblewoman and an attendant of Mary, Queen of Scots

Beaton World Ranking

In the United States, the name Beaton is the 7,230th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 5 However, in Canada, the name Beaton is ranked the 961st most popular surname with an estimated 5,611 people with that name. 6 And in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Beaton is the 761st popular surname with an estimated 56 people with that name. 7

Ireland Migration of the Beaton family to Ireland

Some of the Beaton family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 70 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

United States Beaton migration to the United States +

Dalriadan families proliferated in North America. Their descendants still populate many communities in the eastern parts of both the United States and Canada. Some settled in Canada as United Empire Loyalists, in the wake of the American War of Independence. Families on both sides of the border have recovered much of their heritage in the 20th century through Clan societies and highland games. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Beaton or a variant listed above:

Beaton Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Thomas Beaton, who settled in Virginia in 1630
  • Richard Beaton who settled in Nevis in 1654
Beaton Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Mary Beaton, who landed in New York in 1738 8
  • David Beaton, who arrived in Wilmington, North Carolina in 1774 8
  • Edw Beaton, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1775 8
  • Neil Beaton, who arrived in Virginia in 1776 8

Canada Beaton migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Beaton Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Angus Beaton, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1801
  • Ann Beaton, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1801
  • Archibald Beaton, aged 14, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1801
  • Catherine Beaton, aged 5, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1801
  • Finlay Beaton, aged 9, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1801
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Beaton Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century
  • Mrs. Beaton, who landed in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1907
  • F Beaton, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1907

Australia Beaton migration to Australia +

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

Beaton Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Alexander Beaton, Scottish convict who was convicted in Glasgow, Scotland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Equestrian" on 25th January 1844, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Island) 9
  • John L Beaton, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Forfarshire" in 1848 10
  • John Beaton, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Constant" in 1849 11
  • Miss Mary Beaton, (Betton, Agnes Birkmyre), Scottish needle woman who was convicted in Glasgow, Scotland for 7 years for house breaking, transported aboard the "Aurora" on 22nd April 1851, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land), she died in 1889 12
  • John Beaton, aged 21, who arrived in South Australia in 1852 aboard the ship "Charlotte Jane" 13
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Beaton 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:

Beaton Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • William Beaton, aged 27, a farmer, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Poictiers" in 1850
  • Mr. John Beaton, (b. 1855), aged 24, Scottish ploughman, from Perth travelling from Clyde aboard the ship "Nelson" arriving in Invercargill, Southland, South Island, New Zealand on 28th August 1879 14
  • Mr. John Beaton, (b. 1858), aged 21, Scottish settler, from Lanark travelling from Clyde aboard the ship "Nelson" arriving in Invercargill, Southland, South Island, New Zealand on 28th August 1879 14
  • Mr. Archibald Beaton, (b. 1864), aged 15, Scottish farm labourer, from Lanark travelling from Clyde aboard the ship "Nelson" arriving in Invercargill, Southland, South Island, New Zealand on 28th August 1879 14
  • Mr. James Beaton, (b. 1866), aged 13, Scottish settler, from Lanark travelling from Clyde aboard the ship "Nelson" arriving in Invercargill, Southland, South Island, New Zealand on 28th August 1879 14
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

West Indies Beaton migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 15
Beaton Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century
  • William Beaton, who settled in Barbados in 1635
  • William Beaton, aged 24, who landed in Barbados in 1635 8
  • Mr. William Beaton, (b. 1611), aged 24, British settler travelling from London, England aboard the ship "Alexander" arriving in Barbados in 1635 16

Contemporary Notables of the name Beaton (post 1700) +

  • Thomas Philip Beaton (b. 1897), American Republican politician, Member of Michigan Republican State Central Committee, 1948-50 17
  • Scott Thomas Beaton, American politician, Member of Georgia State House of Representatives from Ware County, 1927-31 17
  • Neil E. Beaton, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Texas, 1948, 1956 (alternate) 17
  • Harold D. Beaton, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from Michigan 11th District, 1947, 1954; Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Michigan, 1964 17
  • Morag Beaton (1926-2010), Scottish-born, Australian dramatic soprano
  • John Beaton (b. 1982), Scottish football referee
  • John Beaton, Director of Scottish Ports
  • Alistair Beaton (b. 1947), Scottish journalist, radio presenter, novelist and television writer
  • Joe Beaton (b. 1910), Canadian professional ice hockey centre from Nova Scotia
  • Alexander Francis "Seldom" Beaton (b. 1953), Canadian retired professional ice hockey player from Nova Scotia
  • ... (Another 13 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
USS Arizona
  • Mr. Freddie Beaton, American Private from Oklahoma, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 18
Victoria steamboat disaster
  • Henry A. Beaton, Canadian passenger who was killed in the Victoria steamboat disaster when the boat capsized in 1881
  • Lilian Beaton, Canadian passenger who was killed in the Victoria steamboat disaster when the boat capsized in 1881

The Beaton 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: Debonnaire
Motto Translation: Graceful
  1. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
  2. The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
  3. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  4. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  5. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  6. "Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
  7. The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
  8. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  9. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 4th May 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/equestrian
  10. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) FORFARSHIRE 1848. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1848Forfarshire.htm
  11. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) The CONSTANT 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849Constant.htm
  12. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 20th August 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/aurora
  13. South Australian Register Tuesday 3 February 1852. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) CHARLOTTE JANE 1852. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/charlottejane1852.shtml
  14. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  15. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
  16. Pilgrim Ship Lists Early 1600's retrieved 28th September 2021 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
  17. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 27) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  18. Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html
Houseofnames.com on Facebook