This interesting surname of Anglo Norman origin with variant spellings Bewes, Bews, Bewzie, Bewsie, Bewsy, Bewsey, etc., is a locational name from Bayeux in Calvados, which obtained its name from being the seat of a Gaulish tribe recorded in Latin sources as the Ba(d)iocasses. The suffix "y" denotes "dweller at". The surname dates back to the early 13th Century, (see below). Further recordings include one William Baines (1235), "Liber Feodorum of Buckinghamshire", and Henry de Beause, de Beuse (1242), "Liber Feodorum of Buckinghamshire". London church recordings include one Jonas Bewzie who was christened on February 16th 1592 at St. Mary's, Whitechapel. henry, son of James Bewsie, was christened on May 1st 1636 at St. James, Clerkenwell, and Grace, daughter of John and Grace Bewsey, was christened on January 10th 1702 at St. Alban's, Wood Street. Elias, son of Elias and Elizabeth Bewsy, was christened on December 25th 1793 at St. Pancras, Old Church. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of John de Baiocis, which was dated 1212, Liber Feodorum of Lincolnshire, during the reign of King John, known as "Lackland", 1199 - 1216. 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.

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