Betsworth History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Etymology of Betsworth

What does the name Betsworth mean?

The Norman Conquest of England in 1066 brought much change to the island nation, including many immigrants with new names. Among these immigrants were the ancestors of the Betsworth family, who lived in Surrey, where they held a family seat from very early times at the village of Betsworth.

Early Origins of the Betsworth family

The surname Betsworth was first found in Surrey where they held a family seat from very early times and were granted lands by Duke William of Normandy, their liege Lord, for their distinguished assistance at the Battle of Hastings in 1066 A.D. They were conjecturally descended from Richard FitzGilbert, a Norman noble who was granted the Old Mill and Church at Becesworde (Betchworth) at Betworth, later to become known as Betsworth in that shire. The Church still has eleventh century fragments and the Old Mill was rebuilt in the 16th century.

Early History of the Betsworth family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Betsworth research. Another 91 words (6 lines of text) covering the year 1726 is included under the topic Early Betsworth History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Betsworth Spelling Variations

A multitude of spelling variations characterize Norman surnames. Many variations occurred because Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules. The introduction of Norman French to England also had a pronounced effect, as did the court languages of Latin and French. Therefore, one person was often referred to by several different spellings in a single lifetime. The various spellings include Betsworth, Betesworth, Bettesworth, Betchworth and many more.

Early Notables of the Betsworth family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

Betsworth of Cornwall

Betsworth migration to the United States +

Many English families left England, to avoid the chaos of their homeland and migrated to the many British colonies abroad. Although the conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and some travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute, once in the colonies, many of the families prospered and made valuable contributions to the cultures of what would become the United States and Canada. Research into the origins of individual families in North America has revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Betsworth or a variant listed above:

Betsworth Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Francis Betsworth who settled in Virginia in 1780

Betsworth migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Betsworth Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

William Betsworth, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1749

Contemporary Notables of the name Betsworth (post 1700) +

Gary Betsworth, American actor, known for his work on Cutting Moments (1997), Home (1998) as well as playwright and author

The Betsworth 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: En Dieu est mon espoir
Motto Translation: In God is my hope.