This most interesting name has a number of distinct origins. Firstly, it may be a Norman locational surname, introduced into England and Scotland after the Conquest of 1066, from the place called "Bethune" in Pas-de-Calais, Picardy. The placename was recorded in the 8th Century in the Latin form "Bituinia", and is thought to be so called from an ancient Germanic personal name "Betto", from "berht", bright, famous. Secondly, it may be derived from the medieval given name "Be(a)ton", a diminutive of a short form of either the female personal name Beatrice, originally "Viatrix", meaning "traveller" or the male personal name Bartholomew, from the Aramaic "bar-Talmay", son of one rich in land.
The latter applies to some extent in Scotland, where the name is found mainly in the Angus and Fife counties, but also in Skye from the mid 16th Century. Early examples of the surname recordings include Baldwinius de Betun, who may be the same as the first nameholder as shown below, and William de Bettoyne in the 1282 London rolls. Walter de Betonia was recorded in Devon in the 1273 Hundred Rolls, whilst Richard de Bettyne was Lord Mayor of London in 1399. An interesting story, but surely a fable is that 'a Dr. Beton was sitting on the upper deck of the "Florida" of the Spanish Armada when it blew up in Tobermory Bay in 1588'. He was thrown 'a good way off', but apparently lived several years after. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Baldwinus de Betton, which was dated 1195, in the pipe rolls of the county of Berkshire, during the reign of King Edward 11, known as "Edward of Caernafon", 1307 - 1327. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.
Discovering the historical origins of Betton is an incredibly exciting journey that takes us back to the ancestors and relatives who built this lineage. Like most surnames, the history of the surname Betton is a thorny and surprising journey into the past in order to find out the origin of the surname Betton, which leads us to have more knowledge about those who bear the surname Betton, their origin, their coat of arms, the bibliography in which it appears... It is possible to trace their genealogy and, in addition to the original places of Betton, we know where it is possible to find people with the surname Betton today.
View complete list of Betton in the world
The history of Betton is an interesting sequence of events that were protagonized by the people who have held the surname Betton throughout history, and it is possible to trace this history back to the first bearers of the surname Betton. Their feats, their way of life, the places they lived, their family relationships, the jobs they held... All of this is crucial for anyone who, like you, is interested in having more information about the historical, heraldic, coat of arms, and nobility of the surname Betton. In the following lines, you can find everything we have been able to compile about the surname Betton. However, if you have more information that you would like to share, we would greatly appreciate your contribution to expand the knowledge of people who, like you, are looking to increase their knowledge about the surname Betton.
Unfortunately, we do not have any more historical information about Betton than the one we have provided with pleasure. We invite those who visit us on this website to analyze the recommended bibliography and to come back often, since we often receive valuable collaborations from other people interested in the origin and history of surnames that could have information of special interest about the surname Betton, and that we would update on this website as soon as possible (after a previous verification). Similarly, if you consider yourself one of those people, we urge you to support us and send us the information about Betton that is available to you, thanking you in advance for your detail.
There have probably been some significant Betton throughout the history of humanity, even if, for some reason, not all of their contributions were included in the chronicles of the time or their data has not come down to the present day. Unfortunately, not all of the important contributions of people who have carried the surname Betton were taken into account at the time by the chroniclers of the time. Although a surname has the ability to link a person to a famous lineage and a glorious coat of arms, it is individuals who, throughout their lives and by virtue of some outstanding or important achievements for the society in which they lived, give their surnames renown and it is possible to establish prominent lineages. For this reason, we want to highlight on this website those people with the surname Betton who, for some reason, have left their mark on the course of history.
Based on all the research we have been able to gather so far, we can say that there is information available about the history, genealogy, and heraldry of the surname Betton thanks to bibliographic sources. This means that we can discover more about its original meaning, origin, history, coat of arms, and heraldry. Our recommendation is to consult the following sources if you want to conduct research on the surname Betton, as well as many other surnames:
These sources are essential for taking a step forward in the study of Betton, and of surnames in general.