Besten History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The ancestors of the bearers of the Besten family name are thought have lived in ancient Anglo-Saxon England. They were first found 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 Besten family

The surname Besten 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 Besten family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Besten 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 Besten History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Besten Spelling Variations

Until quite recently, the English language has lacked a definite system of spelling rules. Consequently, Anglo-Saxon surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. Changes in Anglo-Saxon names were influenced by the evolution of the English language, as it incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other languages. Although Medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, so it is common to find one person referred to by several different spellings of his surname, even the most literate people varied the spelling of their own names. Variations of the name Besten include Beeston, Beaston, Beeson, Beason, Beestoun, Beson and many more.

Early Notables of the Besten family

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

Migration of the Besten family

Searching for a better life, many English families migrated to British colonies. Unfortunately, the majority of them traveled under extremely harsh conditions: overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the ocean. For those families that arrived safely, modest prosperity was attainable, and many went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the new colonies. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Besten or a variant listed above: Stephen Beeston who settled in Maryland in 1666; James Beeson settled in New England in 1774; Thomas Beson settled in Virginia in 1635. In Newfoundland, John Beeson was married in St. John's in 1762.

Citations +

Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print