The
Anglo-Saxon name Beckworde comes from when the family resided at Beckwith in the
Yorkshire parish of Pannal, and it is from this location that the name Beckworde is derived. The distinguished name Beckworde is derived from the Old English word
bece, which means
beech, and the Old Norse word
vior, which means
wood. Thus the surname Beckworde 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 Beckworde family
The surname Beckworde 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 Beckworde family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Beckworde research.
Another 115 words (8 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Beckworde History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Beckworde Spelling Variations
Before English spelling was standardized a few
hundred years ago,
spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, French and other languages became incorporated into English through the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Beckworde include Beckwith, Beckworth, Beckworthe and others.
Early Notables of the Beckworde family (pre 1700)
More information is included under the topic Early Beckworde Notables in all our
PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Beckworde family to the New World and Oceana
A great wave of immigration to the New World was the result of the enormous political and religious disarray that struck
England at that time. Families left for the New World in extremely large numbers. The long journey was the end of many immigrants and many more arrived sick and starving. Still, those who made it were rewarded with an opportunity far greater than they had known at home in
England. These emigrant families went on to make significant contributions to these emerging colonies in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers carried this name or one of its variants: 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 Beckworde 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