Show ContentsBeeson History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Beeson is an old Anglo-Saxon name. It comes from when a family lived at Beeston Castle, in the county of Cheshire. Beeston is also a village near Leeds. Bayston Hill is a large village and civil parish in central Shropshire.

Early Origins of the Beeson family

The surname Beeson was first found in Cheshire, at Beeston, a township, in the parish of Bunbury, union of Nantwich, First division of the hundred of Eddisbury. "This place takes its name from a castle founded by Ranulph de Blundeville, about 1220, and which was made a royal garrison in the war between Henry III. and the confederate barons. Of the ancient mansion of the Beeston family, who long resided here, there are but small remains." 1

"The Shropshire Beestons possess the name of more than one Cheshire parish: they are also represented in Derbyshire and Stafford." 2

Early rolls revealed the family was scattered throughout ancient England in early times. William Bestone was listed in Norfolk in 1153-1166; Andrew de Bieston was entered in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1203; and Ralph de Bestune was listed in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 in Cheshire. William Besteton and Ralph Biesteton were listed in Hampshire c. 1248.

Yorkshire had more records in various rolls: Herbert de Beston in the Assize Rolls of 1219; and Richard de Bestayn was listed as holding lands there in 1297. 3

The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 list: Radulphus de Beston, Esquier, of Beeston; Willelmiis de Beston; and Johannes de Beeston. 4

John Beston (d. 1428), was a theological writer, Prior of the Carmelite convent at Bishop's Lynn, and a doctor in theology both of Cambridge and Paris. "He was highly esteemed as a theologian and a philosopher, and also as a preacher. " 5

Early History of the Beeson family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Beeson research. Another 111 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1579, 1606, 1636, 1638, 1682, 1702, 1711 and 1793 are included under the topic Early Beeson History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Beeson Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years, the English language had no fast system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations are commonly found in early Anglo-Saxon surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Beeson were recorded, including Beeston, Beaston, Beeson, Beason, Beestoun, Beson and many more.

Early Notables of the Beeson family

Another 46 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Beeson Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Beeson Ranking

In the United States, the name Beeson is the 4,702nd most popular surname with an estimated 7,461 people with that name. 6


United States Beeson migration to the United States +

To escape oppression and starvation at that time, many English families left for the "open frontiers" of the New World with all its perceived opportunities. In droves people migrated to the many British colonies, those in North America in particular, paying high rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Although many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, those who did see the shores of North America perceived great opportunities before them. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Research into various historical records revealed some of first members of the Beeson family emigrate to North America:

Beeson Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Stephen Beeson, who arrived in Maryland in 1666 7
  • Thomas Beeson, who landed in Maryland in 1679 7
Beeson Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • James Beeson, who settled in New England in 1774
Beeson Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Eliza Beeson, aged 26, who landed in New York in 1854 7
  • Emma Beeson, who arrived in New York in 1854 7
  • William Beeson, aged 3, who landed in New York in 1854 7

Canada Beeson migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Beeson Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Dant Beeson, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1749
  • John Beeson was married in St. John's, Newfoundland in 1762 8
  • Francis Beeson, who settled in Holyrood, Newfoundland in 1792 8
Beeson Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Australia Beeson migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Beeson Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Miss Susannah Beeson, English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Canada" in March 1810, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 9
  • Mr. Charles Beeson, (b. 1813), aged 22, English farm labourer who was convicted in Bedford, Bedfordshire, England for life for burglary, transported aboard the "Aurora" on 18th June 1835, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land), he died in 1880 10
  • Mr. James Beeson, (b. 1807), aged 28, English farm labourer who was convicted in Bedford, Bedfordshire, England for life for burglary, transported aboard the "Aurora" on 18th June 1835, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land), he died in 1878 10
  • Alfred Beeson, aged 22, who arrived in South Australia in 1849 aboard the ship "Prince Regent" 11
  • G. James Beeson, aged 26, who arrived in South Australia in 1849 aboard the ship "Prince Regent" 11
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Beeson migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Beeson Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Sarah Beeson, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Phoenix" in 1860

Contemporary Notables of the name Beeson (post 1700) +

  • Duane W. Beeson, American fighter pilot and flying ace in the U.S. Army Air Forces, during World War II, credited with 17 aerial victories
  • Terry Beeson (b. 1955), American former NFL football linebacker who played from 1977 to 1982
  • Robert Beeson, American music executive, founder of Essential Records in 1992
  • John Beeson (1803-1889), English abolitionist and early Native American advocate, author of A Plea for the Indians (1857)
  • Diana Danielle Danny Beeson (b. 1991), American actress of Malaysian descent
  • Charles Henry Beeson (1870-1949), American classical scholar
  • Chalkley McArtor "Chalk" Beeson (1848-1912), American businessman, lawman, and cattleman, known for his ownership of the famous Long Branch Saloon in Dodge City, Kansas
  • Marc Beeson (b. 1954), American country music singer and songwriter
  • Henry White Beeson (1791-1863), American politician, Member of the U.S. House of Representatives (1841-1843)
  • Duane Beeson (1921-1947), American World War II fighter pilot ace who had 22.08 aerial victories
  • ... (Another 9 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)


Suggested Readings for the name Beeson +

  • Genealogy of the Daniels Family: Ancestors and Family of John Francis Daniels and Allied Families (including the Beeson Family) by Hazel Marie McDaniel Daniels.

  1. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  2. Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
  3. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  4. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  5. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
  6. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  7. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  8. Seary E.R., Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland, Montreal: McGill's-Queen's Universtity Press 1998 ISBN 0-7735-1782-0
  9. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 9th December 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/canada
  10. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 20th August 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/aurora
  11. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) "PRINCE REGENT" 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849PrinceRegent.htm


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