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Beauchamp History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables World Ranking

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Citations

Beauchamp History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
France

Today's generation of the Beauchamp family bears a name that was brought to England by the migration wave that was started by the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Beauchamp family lived in Bedfordshire, Buckingham, and Hertfordshire. The geographical roots of the name, however, were established prior to the family's presence in Britain, and stem from the Old French Beauchamps, which refers to towns of that name in Manche and Somme.

Early Origins of the Beauchamp family

The surname Beauchamp was first found in Bedfordshire, Buckingham, and Hertford, where the name was "introduced into England at the Norman Conquest by Hugo de Beauchamp, or de Bello Campo, to whom William [the Conqueror] gave 43 lordships, chiefly in the county of Bedford. " 1

Linslade in Buckinghamshire has a long-time association with the family. "This place in the reign of Henry III. belonged to William de Beauchamp [(d. 1260)], to whom, in 1251, that monarch granted the privilege of a market on Thursday, and a fair on Lady-day to continue for eight days." 2

Roothing-Beauchamp, a parish, in the union and hundred of Ongar, S. division of the county of Essex " takes the affix to its name from William Beauchamp, proprietor of the manor in 1262." 2

Another branch was found at early times in the parish of Shrawley in Worcestershire. "This place belonged to Ralph de Todeni, who was standardbearer to William at the battle of Hastings, and whose family held the lands till the time of Edward II., when they passed to the family of Guy Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick." 2

Also in Worcestershire, a branch of the family was found at Bengeworth. "The manor [of Bengeworth] anciently belonged to the Beauchamp family, whose baronial castle, situated near the bridge, was in the twelfth century destroyed by William d'Anville, abbot of Evesham, in retaliation for depredations committed by the owner on his monastery." 2

Walter de Beauchamp (d. 1236), was an English judge, son and heir of William de Beauchamp, Lord of Elmley, Worcester, and hereditary castellan of Worcester and sheriff of the county. 3

Robert de Beauchamp (d. 1252), was an early English judge, a minor at the death of his father, Robert de Beauchamp, Lord of Hatch, Somerset, in 1211-1212. "Adhering to John, he was appointed constable of Oxford and sheriff of the county towards the close of 1215, and received grants of land for his services to the king. " 3

Guy de Beauchamp , Earl of Warwick (d. 1315), was Lord Ordainer and succeeded his father, William, Earl of Warwick, the grandson of Walter de Beauchamp.

Richard de Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick (1382-1439), was "a brave and chivalrous warrior in an age of chivalry, of an ancient family, whose ancestry was traced to the legendary Guy of Warwick, the son of Thomas, Earl of Warwick." 3

Early History of the Beauchamp family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Beauchamp research. Another 69 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1338, 1343, 1369, 1392, 1401, 1411, 1445, 1592 and 1655 are included under the topic Early Beauchamp History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Beauchamp Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years the English language had no fixed system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations occurred commonly in Anglo Norman surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Beauchamp were recorded, including Beauchamp, Beauchamps, Beacham, Beecham and others.

Early Notables of the Beauchamp family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

the Earls of Warwick, such as Thomas de Beauchamp, 11th Earl of Warwick (d. 1369), who was an English nobleman and a military commander during the Hundred Years' War
Thomas de Beauchamp, 12th Earl of Warwick, (1338-1401), English medieval nobleman, and one of the primary opponents of Richard II, son of Thomas de Beauchamp, 11th Earl of Warwick
William de Beauchamp, 1st Baron Bergavenny (1343-1411), an English peer, summoned to Parliament in 1392 as "Willilmo Beauchamp de Bergavenny", by which he is held to have become Baron Bergavenny
Henry de Beauchamp, 14th Earl of Warwick, who was made the 1st Duke of Warwick April 14, 1445

Beauchamp World Ranking

In the United States, the name Beauchamp is the 2,889^th most popular surname with an estimated 9,948 people with that name. 4 However, in Canada, the name Beauchamp is ranked the 375^th most popular surname with an estimated 12,310 people with that name. 5 And in Quebec, Canada, the name Beauchamp is the 184^th popular surname. 6 France ranks Beauchamp as 3,416^th with 2,000 - 2,500 people. 7

Beauchamp migration to the United States +

The unstable environment in England at this time caused numerous families to board ships and leave in search of opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad in places like Ireland, Australia, and particularly the New World. The voyage was extremely difficult, however, and only taken at great expense. The cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels caused many to arrive diseased and starving, not to mention destitute from the enormous cost. Still opportunity in the emerging nations of Canada and the United States was far greater than at home and many went on to make important contributions to the cultures of their adopted countries. An examination of many early immigration records reveals that people bearing the name Beauchamp arrived in North America very early:

Beauchamp Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Richard Beauchamp, who landed in Massachusetts in 1641 8
Edward Beauchamp, a Huguenot and Freeman, who settled in Salem, Massachusetts in 1643
Robert Beauchamp, who arrived in Ipswich, Massachusetts in 1648 8
Edmund Beauchamp, who arrived in Maryland in 1665 8
Edward Beauchamp, who landed in Maryland in 1665 8
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Beauchamp Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Jean Beauchamp, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1719 8
Mr. De Beauchamp, who arrived in Louisiana in 1719 8
John Mich Beauchamp, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1732 8
Joseph Beauchamp, son of Jean and Jeanne Muloin, who married Louise Martel in 1735 in Verchères
William Beauchamp, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1741 8
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Beauchamp Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

L. Beauchamp, who settled in San Francisco in 1850
G. Beauchamp, who settled in San Francisco in 1850

Beauchamp migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Beauchamp Settlers in Canada in the 17th Century

Jacques Beauchamp, who landed in Montreal in 1659
Marie Dardenne Beauchamp, who arrived in Montreal in 1659
Jean Beauchamp, son of Michel and Marie, who married Jeanne Loisel, daughter of Louis and Marguerite, in Montreal, Quebec on 23rd November 1666 9
Pierre Beauchamp, son of Jacques and Marie, who married Anne Bazinet, daughter of Antoine and Françoise, in Pointe-aux-Trembles, Quebec on 2nd March 1699 9
Pierre Beauchamp, son of Jean and Jeanne, who married Angélique-Françoise Leclerc, daughter of Guillaume and Marie-Thérèse, in Montreal, Quebec on 29th June 1699 9

Beauchamp Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Jean Beauchamp, son of Jean and Jeanne, who married Jeanne Muloin, daughter of Jean and Marguerite, in Repentigny, Quebec on 19th April 1701 9
Jacques Beauchamp, son of Jacques and Marie, who married Catherine Bazinet, daughter of Antoine and Françoise, in Pointe-aux-Trembles, Quebec on 4th March 1701 9
François Beauchamp, son of François and Marie, who married Marie-Anne Alarie, daughter of René and Louise, in Quebec on 25th November 1717 9
Jacques Beauchamp, son of Pierre and Anne Bazinet, who married Anne Maguet in 1726 in Rivière-des-Prairies
Pierre Beauchamp, son of Jacques and Catherine, who married Geneviève Rochon, daughter of Jean and Geneviève, in Lachenaie, Quebec on 29th October 1726 9
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Beauchamp Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

John Beauchamp, who arrived in Newfoundland in 1846 10

Beauchamp migration to Australia +

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

Beauchamp Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Maurice Beauchamp, English convict from Surrey, who was transported aboard the "Ann" on August 1809, settling in New South Wales, Australia 11
John Beauchamp, who arrived in Holdfast Bay, Australia aboard the ship "John Renwick" in 1837 12
George Beauchamp, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Boyne" in 1850 13
Frederick Beauchamp, aged 32, who arrived in South Australia in 1857 aboard the ship "Tantivy"

Contemporary Notables of the name Beauchamp (post 1700) +

Cari Beauchamp (1949-2023), American author, historian, journalist, and documentary filmmaker, known for her biography Without Lying Down: Frances Marion and the Power of Women in Hollywood, which was subsequently made into a film
Joseph Scott "Joe" Beauchamp (1944-2020), American professional football defensive back for the San Diego Chargers (1966-1975)
Jim Beauchamp (b. 1939), American Major League Baseball player
Al Beauchamp (b. 1944), American football player
George D Beauchamp (1899-1941), American inventor of musical instruments, co-founder of both National Stringed Instrument Corporation and Rickenbacker
Clement Hoyt "Clem" Beauchamp (1898-1992), American Academy Award-winning second unit director and later a production manager
Reginald E. Beauchamp (1910-2000), American sculptor
Isaac Emerson Beauchamp (1899-1971), American Democratic Party politician, Member of Kentucky State Senate, 1944-46; Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky, 1951-55 14
George Antheme Beauchamp (1899-1990), American Republican politician, Candidate for supervisor of Grosse Pointe Township, Michigan 14
Emory P. Beauchamp, American politician, U.S. Consul in Aix-la-Chapelle, 1874; SAINT Gall, 1884 14
... (Another 11 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Beauchamp family +

Empress of Ireland

Mrs. Ruth Beauchamp (1895-1914), née Foster American Second Class Passenger from SS Marie, Michigan, United States who was traveling aboard the Empress of Ireland and died in the sinking 15

RMS Lusitania

Mr. William Beauchamp, English 3rd Class passenger residing in Otsego, USA, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and survived the sinking 16

RMS Titanic

Mr. George William Beauchamp, aged 24, English Fireman/Stoker from Southampton, Hampshire who worked aboard the RMS Titanic and survived the sinking having handled an oar on lifeboat 13 17
Mr. Henry James Beauchamp (d. 1912), aged 28, English Second Class passenger from London, England who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking and was recovered by CS Mackay-Bennett 17

Citations +

Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
"The first 1,000 family names by rank, Quebec (in French only)" Institut de la statistique du Quebec, https://statistique.quebec.ca/en/document/family-names-in-quebec/tableau/the-first-1000-family-names-by-rank-quebec
http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
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)
Internoscia, Arthur E., and Claire Chevrier. Dictionnaire National des Canadiens Français 1608-1760. Vol. 1, Institut Drouin, 1958.
Seary E.R., Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland, Montreal: McGill's-Queen's Universtity Press 1998 ISBN 0-7735-1782-0
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Ann voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1809 with 200 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/ann/1809
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) JOHN RENWICK 1837. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1837JohnRenwick.htm
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) The barque BOYNE 1850, 521 tons. Retrieved http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1850Boyne.htm
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 13) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
Commemoration Empress of Ireland 2014. (Retrieved 2014, June 16) . Retrieved from http://www.empress2014.ca/seclangen/listepsc1.html
Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 7) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/
Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html