Beamish Coat of Arms Record & History

A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Beamish family of Ireland.

Reg. 6475 · Irish, A–C

Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details

Where the Beamish Arms Were Recorded

Cork
Map of Ireland showing where the Beamish arms are recorded

The Beamish arms were recorded in Cork, c. 1645.

Cork was the largest county in Ireland, with a great harbour and a wide farming hinterland. Both English settlers and older Irish families held land there, and holding land is what brought a family into the records.

This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.

Region
Cork
First recorded
1645

Granting Authority for the Beamish Arms

Arms of Ulster King of Arms
Ulster King of Arms Sodacan · CC BY-SA 3.0
Authority

Ulster King of Arms

1552-1943

The body that granted and recorded arms in Ireland in this period.

Portrait of Charles I of England
Charles I of England
Sovereign of the period

Charles I of England

1625–1649

Reigning in Ireland when the Beamish arms are first recorded.

How Arms Worked in Ireland

The Ulster King of Arms granted coats of arms to individuals who proved their social standing and good character. These symbols were typically inherited by all legitimate descendants of the original holder. If a family branch wanted a unique look, they could apply for a specific change to their design through the office to ensure their identity remained distinct.

Granting authority
The Ulster King of Arms acted as the official body that regulated and issued all coats of arms throughout Ireland.
How they got arms
Families obtained their arms through formal grants issued by the office after proving their eligibility and paying the required fees.
Where arms were recorded
All official grants were recorded in the registers held by the Ulster King of Arms starting from the year 1552.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Cork.

Origin & History of the Beamish Family in Ireland

The Beamish family name is deeply rooted in the history of County Cork, Ireland, where records confirm their presence by 1645. The name is believed to have originated from the Old French phrase "beau mis," which translates to "fair friend" or "beautiful friend." It is likely that the family arrived in Ireland from England during the seventeenth century, a period marked by significant migration and land settlement. Over the following generations, the family became well-established in the region, eventually becoming closely associated with the local economy and the development of the brewing industry in Cork. Their transition from early settlers to prominent members of the community highlights the way many families integrated into Irish society during this era.

Related Branches & Arms

Root word
Beaumais

Derived from the Old French words for beautiful and house or manor.

This name
BeamishAn Anglo-Norman habitational name referring to someone from a beautiful estate or dwelling.
also spelled
Bemish
Beamyshe
Beamys

Documented Sources

Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884

MacLysaght, Edward. The Surnames of Ireland. 1985

O'Hart, John. Irish Pedigrees; or, The Origin and Stem of the Irish Nation. 1892

National Archives of Ireland, Civil Survey of the County of Cork, 1654–1656

Cork City and County Archives, Beamish and Crawford Business Records, 1792–1900

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