The
Anglo-Saxon name Bechwithy comes from the family having resided at Beckwith in the
Yorkshire parish of Pannal, and it is from this location that the name Bechwithy is derived. The distinguished name Bechwithy is derived from the Old English word
bece, which means
beech, and the Old Norse word
vior, which means
wood. Thus the surname Bechwithy indicates the proximity of the town to a grove of beech trees.
[1]CITATION[CLOSE]
Hanks, Patricia and Flavia Hodges, A Dictionary of Surnames. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1988. Print. (ISBN 0-19-211592-8) The name of Beckwith is said to have been changed from
Malbie in the 12th century.
[2]CITATION[CLOSE]
Lowe, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.Early Origins of the Bechwithy family
The surname Bechwithy was first found in
Yorkshire, where "most of the armigerous families of the name spring from, and Beckwith, a hamlet in the parish of Pannal, in that county, is probably the cradle of the race. "
[2]CITATION[CLOSE]
Lowe, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Early History of the Bechwithy family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bechwithy research.
Another 115 words (8 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Bechwithy History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Bechwithy Spelling Variations
Bechwithy has been spelled many different ways. Before English spelling became standardized over the last few
hundred years,
spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. As the English language changed in the Middle Ages, absorbing pieces of Latin and French, as well as other languages, the spelling of people's names also changed considerably, even over a single lifetime. Spelling variants included: Beckwith, Beckworth, Beckworthe and others.
Early Notables of the Bechwithy family (pre 1700)
More information is included under the topic Early Bechwithy Notables in all our
PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Bechwithy family to the New World and Oceana
In an attempt to escape the chaos experienced in
England, many English families boarded overcrowded and diseased ships sailing for the shores of North America and other British colonies. Those families hardy enough, and lucky enough, to make the passage intact were rewarded with land and a social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families became important contributors to the young colonies in which they settled. Early immigration and passenger lists have documented some of the first Bechwithys to arrive on North American shores: Sir Marmaduke Beckwith of Aldborough who settled in Richmond County, Virginia in 1748; but he had been preceded by Matthew Beckwith who settled in Connecticut in 1635.
The Bechwithy 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: Jouir en bien
Motto Translation: To enjoy innocent