Show ContentsBeebey History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

  • Origins Available:
  • England
Beebey Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Etymology of Beebey

What does the name Beebey mean?

The name Beebey was derived from a place name in Leicestershire called Beeby. The place name is derived from the Old English "beo," meaning "bee," and "byr," or "settlement." That is, it was "the place where they kept bees." 1

The Domesday Book of 1086, records the parish as "Bebi." 2

Early Origins of the Beebey family

The surname Beebey was first found in Leicestershire, England at Beeby, 3 a parish, in the union of Barrow-upon-Soar, hundred of East Goscote 4 where John de Beby was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of 1327. In Yorkshire, the first record there was that of Richard Bebie who was a Freeman of York in 1596. Robert Beeby was later listed in Suffolk in 1674. 5

"The Beebys originally took their name from a Leicestershire parish. In the reign of Henry III., Hugh de Beby was rector of Willoughby Waterless, and William de Beby was rector of Claybrook (N.). Between the reigns of Edward III. and Henry V., four mayors of Leicester bore the name of Bebye, or Beebye, or De Beby (T.). William Beeby was a Gaddesby freeholder in the time of Charles I.; Richard Beeby and Elizabeth Hubbert were married in Belgrave church in the reign of Charles II.; in the middle of last century Francis Beeby was a proprietor of land in Fleckney and a family of the name then lived at Shenton (N.). The name is still in the city of Leicester." 6

Early History of the Beebey family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Beebey research. Another 179 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1744, 1760, 1775, 1840, 1889, 1922, 1963 and 1986 are included under the topic Early Beebey History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Beebey 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 Beebey include Beeby, Beebee, Beebe, Bebe, Beebey and others.

Early Notables of the Beebey family

Another 32 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Beebey Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Beebey family

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: John Beebe, who came to America in 1650; Lydia Beebe, who came to New London, CT in 1650; Samuel Beebe, who settled in America in 1650; Thomas Beebe, who came to America in 1650.

The Beebey 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: Se defendendo
Motto Translation: In his own defence.
  1. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  2. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  3. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  4. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  5. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  6. Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.

Houseofnames.com on Facebook