The 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.
Early Origins of the Bethuen family
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]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 Bethuen family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bethuen research.
Another 279 words (20 lines of text) covering the years 1296, 1332, 1778 and 1545 are included under the topic Early Bethuen History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Bethuen Spelling Variations
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.
Early Notables of the Bethuen family (pre 1700)
More information is included under the topic Early Bethuen Notables in all our
PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Bethuen family to the New World and Oceana
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.
The Bethuen 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: Debonnair
Motto Translation: Graceful.