The name Begett is rooted in the ancient
Anglo-Saxon culture. It was a name for someone who was a person with a prominent nose. The Old English word
beke refers to the beak of a bird. More rarely, Begett may be a
local type surname, referring to someone who lived beside a stream. The surname in this case is derived from the Northern Old English word
bekke, which means
stream and is derived from the Old Norse word
bekkr. Also, Begett may be a
local surname referring to settlements called
Beckett in Berkshire and
Devon. The Berkshire settlement takes its name from the Old English words
beo, which
means bee, and
cot, which means
cottage or
shelter. The name of the
Devon settlement has the Old English
personal name Bicca, which is probably derived from
becca, which means
pickaxe or
mattock, as its first element.
Early Origins of the Begett family
The surname Begett was first found in
Norfolk and
Cheshire, where they held a
family seat from ancient times, long before the
Norman Conquest in 1066.
Early History of the Begett family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Begett research.
Another 217 words (16 lines of text) covering the years 1170, 1653, 1719 and are included under the topic Early Begett History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Begett Spelling Variations
Begett has been spelled many different ways. Before English spelling became standardized over the last few
hundred years,
spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. As the English language changed in the Middle Ages, absorbing pieces of Latin and French, as well as other languages, the spelling of people's names also changed considerably, even over a single lifetime. Many variations of the name Begett have been found, including Becket, Beckett, Beckete, Beckette and others.
Early Notables of the Begett family (pre 1700)
Another 24 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Begett Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Begett family to Ireland
Some of the Begett family moved to
Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 113 words (8 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Begett family to the New World and Oceana
In an attempt to escape the chaos experienced in
England, many English families boarded overcrowded and diseased ships sailing for the shores of North America and other British colonies. Those families hardy enough, and lucky enough, to make the passage intact were rewarded with land and a social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families became important contributors to the young colonies in which they settled. Early immigration and passenger lists have documented some of the first Begetts to arrive on North American shores: John Becket who settled in Salem Massachusetts in 1683; was a shipwright and had a large family. Mary Becket settled in Plymouth Massachusetts in 1623.