The lineage of the name Bekwith begins with the
Anglo-Saxon tribes in Britain. It is a result of when they lived at Beckwith in the
Yorkshire parish of Pannal, and it is from this location that the name Bekwith is derived. The distinguished name Bekwith is derived from the Old English word
bece, which means
beech, and the Old Norse word
vior, which means
wood. Thus the surname Bekwith indicates the proximity of the town to a grove of beech trees.
[1]CITATION[CLOSE]
Hanks, Patricia and Flavia Hodges, A Dictionary of Surnames. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1988. Print. (ISBN 0-19-211592-8) The name of Beckwith is said to have been changed from
Malbie in the 12th century.
[2]CITATION[CLOSE]
Lowe, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.Early Origins of the Bekwith family
The surname Bekwith 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]CITATION[CLOSE]
Lowe, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Early History of the Bekwith family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bekwith research.
Another 115 words (8 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Bekwith History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Bekwith Spelling Variations
Only recently has spelling become standardized in the English language. As the English language evolved in the Middle Ages, the spelling of names changed also. The name Bekwith has undergone many
spelling variations, including Beckwith, Beckworth, Beckworthe and others.
Early Notables of the Bekwith family (pre 1700)
More information is included under the topic Early Bekwith Notables in all our
PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Bekwith family to the New World and Oceana
To escape the unstable social climate in
England of this time, many families boarded ships for the New World with the hope of finding land, opportunity, and greater religious and political freedom. Although the voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, those families that arrived often found greater opportunities and freedoms than they could have experienced at home. 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 Bekwith were among those contributors: 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.
The Bekwith 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: Jouir en bien
Motto Translation: To enjoy innocent