Of all the Anglo-Saxon names to come from Britain, Beckworthey is one of the most ancient. The name is a result of the original family having lived at Beckwith in the Yorkshire parish of Pannal, and it is from this location that the name Beckworthey is derived. The distinguished name Beckworthey is derived from the Old English word bece, which means beech, and the Old Norse word vior, which means wood. Thus the surname Beckworthey indicates the proximity of the town to a grove of beech trees. [1] The name of Beckwith is said to have been changed from Malbie in the 12th century. [2]
The surname Beckworthey 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]
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Beckworthey research. Another 58 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Beckworthey History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
The first dictionaries that appeared in the last few hundred years did much to standardize the English language. Before that time, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. The language was changing, incorporating pieces of other languages, and the spelling of names changed with it. Beckworthey has been spelled many different ways, including Beckwith, Beckworth, Beckworthe and others.
More information is included under the topic Early Beckworthey Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Thousands of English families in this era began to emigrate the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. Although the passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe, those who made the voyage safely were rewarded with opportunities unavailable to them in their homeland. Research into passenger and immigration lists has revealed some of the very first Beckwortheys to arrive in North America: 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.