Map of England showing where the Bettis arms are recorded
The Bettis arms were recorded in Hampshire, c. 1620.
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.
The body that granted and recorded arms in England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in England when the Bettis arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Hampshire.
Origin & History of the Bettis Family in England
The family name Bettis is rooted in the medieval tradition of using nicknames or shortened forms of given names to identify individuals within a community. It is widely considered a patronymic name, which means it likely originated as a derivative of the name Beatrice or perhaps Bartholomew. By the early 17th century, the family had established a clear presence in the county of Hampshire, England. Records from 1620 confirm that members of the family were living in this region during a time of great social and economic transition. As the family grew, they became part of the local fabric of rural English life, likely working in trades or agriculture that defined the Hampshire landscape. Because surnames were still becoming standardized during this era, the spelling of the name often shifted based on local pronunciation and the literacy of the record keepers who documented their births, marriages, and deaths.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bartholomew
Aramaic name meaning son of Talmai or son of the furrow.
This name
BettisA patronymic surname derived from a diminutive form of the given name Bartholomew.
also spelled
Betts
Bettis
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Hampshire Archives, Bishop's Transcripts of Parish Registers, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
cinquefoilHope and joy
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
cinquefoilHope and joy
