Beech History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

For many English families, the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. For such families, the shores of Ireland, Australia, and the New World beckoned. They left their homeland at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. Many arrived after the long voyage sick, starving, and without a penny. But even those were greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. Numerous English settlers who arrived in the United States and Canada at this time went on to make important contributions to the developing cultures of those countries. Many of those families went on to make significant contributions to the rapidly developing colonies in which they settled. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Beech were among those contributors:

Beech Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

• John Beech, who arrived in Virginia in 1650 5
• Ann Beech, who landed in Maryland in 1651 5
• Elias Beech, who arrived in Maryland in 1651 5
• Thomas Beech, who landed in Maryland in 1671 5
• James Beech, who landed in Maryland in 1673 5

Beech Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

• Rebecca Beech, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1772 5

Beech Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

• Joh Samuel Beech, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1801 5
• George Beech, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1866 5

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Beech Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

• Mr. Benea Beech U.E. who settled in Eastern District [Cornwall], Ontario c. 1783 6
• Mr. George Beech U.E. who settled in Eastern District [Cornwall], Ontario c. 1783 6

Beech Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

• Harlow Beech, who arrived in Canada in 1831

Beech Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

• Mr. Robert Beech, English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Clyde" on 20th August 1830, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 7
• Mr. William Beech, English convict who was convicted in Stafford, Staffordshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Emerald Isle" on 25th June 1842, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 8

Beech Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

• Mr. William Beech, (b. 1831), aged 22, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Egmont" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 23rd December 1853 9
• Robert Beech, aged 12, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Strathnaver" in 1874
• Thomas Beech, aged 20, a joiner, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Rangitikei" in 1884

• Matt Beech (b. 1972), American Major League Baseball player
• Walter Herschel Beech (1891-1950), American pioneer aviator
• James Beech, American politician, Burgess of East Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 1927-35 10
• George Beech, American politician, Candidate for New York State Assembly from Erie County 7th District, 1934 10
• Albert Edwin Beech (1904-1973), American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Pennsylvania, 1940; Member of Pennsylvania State House of Representatives 10
• Kenneth "Kenny" Beech (b. 1958), English footballer
• W. Graham Beech (d. 1993), English rower
• Charlie Beech (b. 1987), English rugby union player
• Albert Beech (1912-1985), English footballer
• William George Beech (1898-1971), Canadian politician
• ... (Another 3 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)