Bebber History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The name Bebber reached England in the great wave of migration following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Bebber family lived in Berkshire. The family name, however, is of other geographical derivations, referring to any of several locations in Normandy called Beauvoir. The name is composed of the Old French roots beu, which means fair or lovely, and voir, which means to see, and indicates the bearer's residence in "a place with a fine view." 1 2

Early Origins of the Bebber family

The surname Bebber was first found in Yorkshire where Ralph de Belueeir was listed in the Pipe Rolls of 1170. Later, John de Beauveir was listed in the Assize Rolls for 1204 and William Bever, de Beuver in the Curia Regis Rolls for 1207-1208. 3

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 included the following: (Prior) de Beuver (Nottinghamshire), or Beauver (Leicestershire); John de Beauver, Yorkshire; and Thurstan de Beauver, Yorkshire. 4

Another early roll notes: John de Beauver, Yorkshire, Henry III-Edward I: Testa de Nevill, sive Liber Feodorum, temp. Henry III-Edward I. 5

Early History of the Bebber family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bebber research. Another 81 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Bebber History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bebber Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, Norman French and other languages became incorporated into English throughout the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Bebber include Beaver, Beavor, Beavers, Beavors, Beavoirs, Beevers and many more.

Early Notables of the Bebber family

More information is included under the topic Early Bebber Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bebber migration to the United States +

In England at this time, the uncertainty of the political and religious environment of the time caused many families to board ships for distant British colonies in the hopes of finding land and opportunity, and escaping persecution. The voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, though, and many arrived in North America sick, starved, and destitute. Those who did make it, however, were greeted with greater opportunities and freedoms that they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make important contributions to the young nations in which they settled. Early immigration records have shown some of the first Bebbers to arrive on North American shores:

Bebber Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Dewald Bebber, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1761 6
John Bebber, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1761 6

Contemporary Notables of the name Bebber (post 1700) +

Jack Van Bebber (1907-1986), American gold medalist wrestler at the 1932 Olympic Games
Jim Van Bebber (b. 1964), American film director
Osório Claudio Bebber O.F.M. Cap. (1929-2021), Brazilian Roman Catholic prelate who served as the second Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tubarão from 1981 to 1992

Citations +

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)
Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Testa de Nevill or "Liber Feodorum" or "Book of Fees," thought to have been written by Ralph de Nevill, for King John (1199–1216)
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)