ScotlandThe ancestors of the Bethuen family took their surname from a place name. The roots of this place name lie with the ancient Viking settlers. The Bethuen surname comes from someone having lived in Béthune in Pas-de-Calais, Picardy, France.
The surname Bethuen was first found in Perthshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Pheairt) former county in the present day Council Area of Perth and Kinross, located in central Scotland, where they acquired lands. "This illustrious name is traceable, beyond question, to Robert, surnamed Faisseus, seigneur of the town of Bethune, in Artois, in the year 1000, and there is good reason to suppose that he was a descendant of the ancient Counts of Artois." [1]
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bethuen research. Another 140 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1296, 1332, 1778, 1470, 1539, 1494, 1546 and 1545 are included under the topic Early Bethuen History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Spelling and translation were quite undeveloped in the Middle Ages. Consequently, the spelling of Scottish names was an inconsistent practice, usually governed by the unique ear of the scribe recording the name. Over the years, Bethuen was spelled Bethune, Betune and others.
Another 30 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Bethuen Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Opportunity and land greeted those who made it all the way. Some had the opportunity to solidify their new freedom by fighting in the American War of Independence, while others went or stayed north as United Empire Loyalists. Recently, the ancestors of those brave settlers have been able to recover much of their heritage through Clan societies and other patriotic organizations. A thorough examination of passenger and immigration lists has disclosed evidence of many early immigrants of the name Bethuen: Anne Bethune who settled in New York in 1822; followed by N. Bethune in New York in 1825.
