Coat of Arms & Family Crests Store
 Bettridge Coat of Arms / Bettridge Family CrestThe surname of BETTRIDGE was derived from the Old English word Beaduric - a name meaning 'battle-powerful'. A very ancient personal name found in Surrey and Bethersden, County Kent, now very rare. Habitation names are derived from names denoting towns, villages, farmsteads or other named places, which include rivers, houses with signs on them, regions, or whole counties. The original bearer of the name who stayed in his area might be known by the name of his farm, or the locality in the parish; someone who moved to another town might be known by the name of his village; while someone who moved to another county could acquire the name of that county or the region from which he originated. At first the coat of arms was a practical matter which served a function on the battlefield and in tournaments. With his helmet covering his face, and armour encasing the knight from head to foot, the only means of identification for his followers, was the insignia painted on his shield, and embroidered on his surcoat, the draped and flowing garment worn over the armour Early records of the name mention William Betrich who was recorded in the year 1297 in County Cambridge and John Betrychem appears in 1298 in County Sussex. Edward Betteriss of Yorkshire, was listed in the Yorkshire Poll Tax of 1379, and William Badrock appears in County Lancashire in 1400.Most of the European surnames in countries such as England, Scotland and France were formed in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. The process had started somewhat earlier and had continued in some places into the 19th century, but the norm is that in the tenth and eleventh centuries people did not have surnames, whereas by the fifteenth century most of the population had acquired a second name. |
