The Medieval Origins of West Yorkshire Beaumonts

By Gary Beaumont, Version April 2026

Acknowledgement: E.M. Beaumont has provided significant input for this document. First, he agreed to DNA testing, which was instrumental to the success of the Beaumont, West Yorkshire, Y-DNA surname project on Family Tree DNA. Second, since the 1700s, his family actively saved information that is essential to the story of the Beaumonts in West Yorkshire. Third, he doggedly searched archives for relevant historical records, which appear in the document. And finally, he critiqued this article, generously offering his considerable insight and guidance along the way. This article would not have been possible without his contributions.

Nearly a thousand years ago, William de Bellomonte/Beaumont appeared in West Yorkshire, England, under the patronage of the Constable of Chester, or Roger de Lacy (c.1165-1211), a prominent baron who inherited the Honour of Pontefract in 1194 CE. At the time of the 1841 Census of England, nearly 2,900 individuals with the surname Beaumont lived in Yorkshire, most of them concentrated around Huddersfield in West Yorkshire. [1] So, the family grew and prospered and, today, descendants live in locations around the world. With this in mind, can Y-DNA be used to determine the origins of this family and to prove that William was indeed the progenitor of it?

History is recorded in the Y-DNA of living males, so this story starts with living males and goes back in time to answer these questions. By combining the results of the first systematic study of Beaumont Y-DNA [2] with the surviving historical paper trail, a powerful argument emerges: our Beaumont ancestors traveled through time and place – from Britain, to Normandy, back to Norman England, and finally West Yorkshire – where William de Bellomonte/Beaumont (fl. 1194-1227) became the progenitor of many (though certainly not all) modern-day Beaumonts with roots centered around Huddersfield.  The Y-DNA of William de Bellomonte/Beaumont is unavailable, but his story lives on in the DNA of his descendant – E.M. Beaumont (EMB). EMB is a distant relative of Richard H. Beaumont (1749-1810) (RHB), who held the Whitley estate in his lifetime and was in possession of the earliest family documents. These documents allowed RHB to create a family tree starting with William de Bellomonte/Beaumont (WBB).  RHB was familiar with the work of the antiquary Roger Dodsworth (c.1585-1654), [3] who had visited Whitley Hall in 1629 and made notes about the deeds there, most of which were still in RHB's possession. Subsequently, some of these deeds were deposited at Huddersfield Library, but they are now at West Yorkshire Archive Service. [4] Also, some original Beaumont papers are in the Bodleian Libraries, Oxford. [5]

Figure 1. A paragraph extracted from a family tree, in RHB's own hand. In 1796 CE, he sent this tree to a member of EMB’s family. [6] [7] It was authenticated by ancient deeds and wills in his possession as well as other evidence from Oxford’s Bodleian Library.

The following table is based on RHB’s family tree as well as other publicly available and published sources. The older information is less reliable and supported by fewer corroborating historical records. The table is also incomplete. For instance, only two women are included, and most “cadet sons,”[8] are omitted.

Abbreviations: d.= died; m. = married; c.= circa; fl. = flourished; and d.s.p.= died without issue.

Column 1: EMB’s paternal lineage. This column presents EMB's paternal line, including his connection to the Whitley Beaumonts. It shows a continuous male line from WBB to EMB. This is not, of course, definitive proof of an unbroken biological paternal line. It also shows EMB’s relationship with RHB, most recently through Frances Beaumont (1704-1735), and earlier through common male ancestors, which include WBB through Henry (c. 1335-1400).

Table 1: The paternal line of William de Bellomonte. Beaumont (1170-1230).

Column 2 Lascelles Hall Beaumonts. [9] The Lascelles Hall Beaumonts are so named because Henry Beaumont (d. 1468/9) inherited Lascelles Hall through his wife, Johanna Lascelles, heir of her father. The original medieval hall was demolished long ago. The family later moved to Castle Hall near Mirfield, rebuilt for William Beaumont (d. c. 1621) and his wife Rosamund Beaumont of the Whitley branch. A new Lascelles Hall was constructed on the old site by the Walker family in the 18th century and survives today.

The Lascelles Beaumont line continues after RHB. First, his brother, John (1752-1820), inherited. John’s son, Charles (1777-1813), died before his father, so Charles’ son, Richard Henry (1805-1857), inherited. This line died out with Richard Henry, but he passed the estate to his godson, Henry F. Beaumont (1833-1913), a descendant of Thomas Beaumont (1724-1783) in column 1 and a cousin of EMB. This becomes the Allendale branch, which is not detailed in the table.

Column 3 the Whitley Beaumonts. [10] The Whitley Beaumonts are so named because they maintained a residence at Whitley Hall, which was demolished long ago. The male line of this branch does not continue after Richard Beaumont (1574-1631) who died without a male heir. He was succeeded by Thomas Beaumont (1606-1668) from column 2 of the Lascelles Hall Beaumont.

William de Bellomonte/Beaumont is the first in this line to receive 1/8th knight's fee, and from then on, the family's property holdings increased over time. William de Bellomonte II (fl. 1250) acquired Whitley c. 1240 CE.[11] William de Beaumont III (fl. 1298) married the daughter of Richard de Fossato, through whom he inherited Crosland Hall. He gave to his son, Robert, land in Huddersfield, Crosland Foss, North Crosland, Meltham and South Kirby. Henry Beaumont (c.1335-1400) is a pivotal figure because at least three lines of descent originate from him, including the paternal line of EMB. [13]

Figure 2. The earliest known document relating to the Whitley Beaumonts. “I, John de Lacy, Earl of Lincoln (1232-1240) and Constable of Chester, grant and by this my present charter confirm to John Mouncebot and his heirs or to an assignee namely William de Bellomonte, if the same wishes to assign to him, and to his heirs, all the land that I have purchased from Thomas de Dranffeld in the vill of Witteley with the capital messuage and all liberties and easements in the vill or outside it and with all appurtenant services, rents, wardships, escheats and reliefs of freemen and rustics belonging to the said land …. to have and to hold … to him and his heirs, or his assignee namely the aforesaid William de Bellomonte, from me and my heirs in perpetuity …”[14]

DNA Study

As the first systematic Y-DNA study of the Beaumont paternal line, it is now possible to pair the Y-DNA tree with the historical records and the family trees of several branches, focusing on West Yorkshire and the period of time during which the Beaumonts are known to have lived there.

E.M. Beaumont (EMB) is the proxy for this paternal line. To date, he matches nearly 40 individuals in the surname project. These matches either bear the surname Beaumont, a variation of the surname Beaumont, or a proven connection to the surname Beaumont. Individuals with different surnames share a defining SNP, which is a guarantee of a shared paternal ancestor.

DNA testing has been conducted through FamilyTreeDNA®, with the Big Y-700™ test proving especially valuable. The surname project now has nearly 30 Big Y-700 tests, each identifying SNP mutations – permanent, irreversible changes in the Y-chromosome. Because Y-chromosome mutations occur randomly these SNPs are difficult to date precisely. However, each new mutation is a once-in-all-of-human-history event, unique to a single male and all his male descendants. So, every new SNP marks the beginning of a new branch in the paternal line.

Taken together, this is a rich dataset that offers meaningful conclusions and hypotheses. Most importantly, it produces a sequence of SNPS known as a Y-DNA Haplotree.

Figure 3. The Y-DNA Haplotree for West Yorkshire Beaumonts is: R1b → R-M269 → R-L23 → R-L151 → R-P312 (2900 BCE) → R-L21 → R-Z290 → R-DF13 → R-Z39589 → R-FGC35996 → R-BY9003 →  R-BY81032 → R-BY115264→ R-A18420 (1050 CE). A Haplotree is like a family tree, but instead of names and birth dates, it is a tree of SNPs and birth dates. The dating of the SNP is from the earliest to the most recent.

West Yorkshire Branches

The following four tables profile several branches of the group I call West Yorkshire Beaumonts. They integrate family trees, regional historic records, and Y-DNA evidence. The family trees are based on publicly available trees on Ancestry.com, and records have been checked and re-checked to ensure the greatest possible reliability. Some family tree information has been omitted or obscured for privacy.

For each of the tables, please note that additional testing will likely improve the dating of the various branches and may reveal new SNP-defined sub-branches. However, SNP dating carries confidence intervals that should be interpreted as approximate – often one generation earlier or later. Any stated connection to a specific individual, therefore, is hypothesis. The evidence for the connection is strong, but circumstantial.

Two SNPs – R‑A18420 and R‑FT377951 – appear to have arisen in West Yorkshire and define the shared Y‑DNA profile of all men represented in these tables. Every tester in this group carries both these defining SNPs. Additional downstream SNPs differentiate between the branches.

The earliest branch is represented in the first table. All individuals in it share R FT377951.

FamilyTreeDNA® estimates that the most recent common paternal ancestor for R FT377951 lived around 1200 CE, with a broad confidence range. Based on the geographic and historical context, a plausible candidate for the progenitor of this paternal line is William de Bellomonte/Beaumont (1170–1230), one of the earliest documented men bearing the Beaumont name in West Yorkshire.

Three individuals share this SNP R-FT377951: L Beaumont. #IN96915; L Bickle, #; WS Beaumont, #951134.

FamilyTreeDNA® says L Beaumont and WS Beaumont are estimated to share a common paternal line ancestor who, with a 95% probability, was born between 1100 and 1700 CE. The most likely year is rounded to 1450 CE.

A downstream SNP, R‑FTF73784, is shared by L. Bickle and W. S. Beaumont. FTDNA® dates this mutation to approximately 1850 CE, indicating a more recent branching within the broader West Yorkshire line. STR-based estimates (Genetic Distance of 3 at Y‑111) suggest that these two men share a common paternal ancestor sometime between 1600 and 1900 CE, with a midpoint estimate around 1750 CE. These ranges are consistent with the genealogical records available for the families involved.

Documentary evidence becomes scarce before the mid‑1500s, and parish registers do not exist before that period. As a result, it is not currently possible to extend the family trees back to the medieval Beaumonts through traditional records alone. Y‑DNA therefore provides the only meaningful clue to the deeper origins of this paternal line.

Table 2: Beaumont FT377951, born about 1200 CE.

The individuals listed in the following table share Y-DNA SNP R-FT377591 (highlighted in green).

When two men share a high‑quality Y‑DNA SNP, they share a common paternal ancestor with extremely high probability. The chance of an independent mutation or sequencing error is negligible, but not zero.

SNP R-FT377591 was formed when it branched off from the ancestor SNP R-FT377951 and the rest of humankind around 1200 CE.

Table 3: Beaumont FT377591, born about 1450 CE.

FamilyTreeDNA® says the man who is the most recent common ancestor of R-FT377591 is estimated to have been born around 1450 CE, which means the common paternal ancestor could be John (fl. 1442). 

A downstream branch, defined by SNP R-FTD89894, EMB, #IN91692; LB, # IN151626; SB, # B1004876; and DCD, #991001 (highlighted in orange). This paternal line branched off from R-FT377591 around 1450 CE. FamilyTreeDNA® says the man who is the most recent common ancestor of this line is estimated to have been born around 1500 CE. The common paternal ancestor could be John (1490-1521).

Further, LB, # IN151626; SB, # B1004876; and DCD, #991001, share SNP R-FTD89303, dated 1550 CE. This narrows down the possible common paternal ancestors to Walter (1557/8- ), the son of Humphrey. 

LB, # IN151626; and SB, # B1004876, also share SNP R-FTJ44142, confirming their common paternal lineage.Another more recent branch formed at SNP R-FT415852. RB, #392890; RB, #587918; and CRB, #IN136354 (highlighted in rose) share this SNP. This paternal line was formed when it branched from the ancestor R-FT377591 and the rest of humankind around 1450 CE. FamilyTreeDNA® says the man who is the most recent common ancestor of this line is estimated to have been born around 1600 CE.

A search of West Yorkshire, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1512-1812 suggests that Witt* (William Beaumont), born about 1550, is the common ancestor of the four columns on the right. There are several generations that could be contested because records are non-existent or missing key information. The most obvious example is the absence of baptismal record for Emanuel, which prevents making a connection to earlier ancestors, but the shared SNP proves the connection and the timing is correct.

If a generation equals 30-years or so, it suggests two unknown generations exist between Witt* (William Beaumont), born about 1550, and John Beaumont (fl. 1442). The common paternal ancestor of this branch could be Lawrence Beaumont (fl. 1472)  or, more likely, one of his brothers: John, Thomas, Henry, William, Nicholas, and George. The lack of records makes it difficult or even impossible to fill in the missing two generations. The shared SNP confirms a genetic connection among the testers but does not identify the specific ancestor who carried the mutation.

Figure 4. A portion of the family tree, in RHB's own hand, showing the other sons of John (fl. 1442) and the brothers of Lawrence (fl. 1472). This tree was sent to a member of EMB’s family in 1796.

With numerous cadet sons, it is possible that other branches exist from this root (R-FT377591), which means that living males from these potential branches have not tested their Y-DNA or joined the project. Otherwise, the other branches have gone extinct.

Branch R-FTC40866

The individuals in following table are connected by either a common paternal ancestor identified in their family trees, or autosomal DNA or Y-DNA matches.

Three individuals have completed a Big-Y test indicating that this branch shares the defining SNP R-FTC40866. According to FamilyTreeDNA®, this SNP formed when it diverged from its ancestor R-FT377951 around 1200 CE. The man who is the most recent common ancestor of this line is estimated to have been born around 1550 CE.

Speculatively, the shared ancestor might be James Beaumont (1700-1749). It seems, after his death, many of his children immigrated to America. Additional testing is needed to confirm this connection; ideally, this would include a match to an individual from England with an extensive and well documented family tree.

Within this branch, several individuals also have autosomal DNA connections to descendants of Squire Boone, father of Daniel Boone, which corroborates certain oral family traditions. Squire Boone led a group of people from Pennsylvania to North Carolina in the mid-1700s, and Daniel Boone later guided settlers through the Cumberland Gap into Kentucky in the late 1700s.

Table 4. Beaumont R-FTC40866, born about 1550 CE.

Everyone in the next table shares FTA79395 and A18420, which again defines the West Yorkshire Beaumonts. But they also share SNP R-FTA79395, which defines a new branch. 

FamilyTreeDNA® says the man who is the most recent common ancestor of this line is estimated to have been born around 1250 CE. Six individuals are in this branch: FL Beaman, #270842; PH Beaumont, #482625; M Beaumont, #IN156559; JF Frost, #995985; L.H. Beaumont, #1043357; and J  Smith, #B644390.

The next, more recent SNP in this branch is R-FTH69094, dated to a man born about 1400 CE. Five individuals share this SNP: FL Beaman, #270842; PH Beaumont, #482625; M Beaumont, #IN156559; JF Frost, #995985; and L.H. Beaumont, #1043357.

Downstream from R-FTH69094 is SNP R-FT165329. FamilyTreeDNA® says the man who is the most recent common ancestor of this line is estimated to have been born around 1700 CE. Two individuals share this SNP: JF Frost, #995985; and L.H. Beaumont, #1043357. 

Furthermore, FamilyTreeDNA® says, based on a Genetic Distance of 3 at the Y-111 test level, LH Beaumont and JF Frost are estimated to share a common paternal line ancestor who was, with a 95% probability, born between 1600 and 1900 CE. The common ancestor was likely born about 1700 CE. This perfectly matches to Matthew Beaumont (1748-1803), and together with other historical records, it makes him the common ancestor.

Also downstream from R-FTH69094 is SNP TBD. FamilyTreeDNA® says TBD. Two individuals share this SNP: PH Beaumont, #482625; M Beaumont, #IN156559.

Furthermore, FamilyTreeDNA® says, based on a Genetic Distance of 3 at the Y-111 test level, PH Beaumont and M Beaumont are estimated to share a common paternal line ancestor who was, with a 95% probability, born between TBD. 

Table 5. Beaumont R-FTA79395, born about 1300 CE.

At present, no historical documentation or Y‑DNA evidence links any branch of the Beaumont surname project to either the Whitley Beaumonts or the Lascelles Hall Beaumonts. As well, both these principal paternal lines have gone extinct, making direct genetic comparison impossible.

Lascelles Hall Beaumonts

The Lascelles Hall male line ended in the mid‑19th century. Richard H. Beaumont (1749–1810) died without issue, and his brother John (1752–1820) inherited the estate. John’s son, Charles (1777–1813), predeceased him, so the inheritance passed to Charles’s son, Richard Henry Beaumont (1805–1857). Richard Henry died without a male heir, extinguishing the paternal line. His godson, Henry F. Beaumont (1833–1913), then inherited the Whitley estate. Henry F. descended from Thomas Beaumont (1724–1783) in Table 1, Column 1, and was a cousin of EMB. Because no male descendants of the Lascelles Hall Beaumonts survive, Y‑DNA comparison with this branch is not possible.

The surname project does include a descendant of Charlotte Beaumont (1779–1815), sister of Charles (1777–1813) and aunt of Richard Henry (1805–1857). In 1857, her son, Richard Henry John Beaumont McCumming, received Royal license to “assume and use” the surname Beaumont. His paternal line, however, is McCumming, not Beaumont, so his Y‑DNA cannot match the West Yorkshire Beaumont profile. His autosomal results (kit #B1054617) are available at FTDNA, but he shares no Y‑DNA or autosomal matches with any project member.

Autosomal DNA tests are generally reliable for about six generations; in exceptional cases, perhaps eight. Most potential connections to the Lascelles Hall and Whitley Beaumonts lie twelve or more generations back, far beyond the useful range of autosomal matching.

Whitley Beaumont

The paternal line of the Whitley Beaumonts ended with Richard Beaumont (1574-1631).^[1] He never married and died without a legitimate male heir. In his will, he made provisions for two illegitimate daughters, however. In the will, he also named Thomas Beaumont (1606-1668) of the Lascelles Beaumonts to inherit the Whitely estate. Richard is buried at St. John the Baptist, Kirkheaton. His epithet: Here lyeth interred the Body of Sir Richard Beaumont of Whitley Hall in the Countie of Yorke, Knight and Baronet who departed this life the 20th day of October Anno AEtatis svae 58 Anno Domini 1631, expecting a glorious resurrection at the coming of Christ. Who dying unmarried made Thomas Beaumont, sonn and heir apparent to Richard Beaumont of Kexbrugh in the Countie of Yorks Esq. one of his executors and heir to his park at Sandal, and to his ancient inheritance in Whitley, South Crosland, Meltham and Lepton lying in the said Countie. Who having performed ye trust in him reposed, in memory of his worthy kinsman, hath caused this memorial to be erected. Vivet post funera virtus.

Figure 5. Memorial altar for Richard Beaumont of Whitley Hall at St. John the Baptist, Kirkheaton. In the strictest sense, establishing a genetic connection to a historical figure requires access to that person’s DNA. Absent Richard’s DNA any connection would be inferred. In October 2026, a request to extract DNA from Richard’s tomb was denied.

Making family tree connections to either the Lascelles Hall or Whitley Beaumonts is further complicated by intermarriage. For instance, William Beaumont (d.c. 1621) of the Lascelles Hall Beaumonts married Rosamund Beaumont of the Whitley Beaumonts. The two branches also both married into the Ramsden and Neville families. These intermarriages cloud autosomal matching.

Table 6. A snapshot of intermarriage between branches of the Beaumonts and other gentry families in West Yorkshire.

The Beaumonts were closely connected to several leading Puritan‑leaning gentry families in West Yorkshire through marriage, political alliances, shared economic interests, and overlapping social networks. For instance, Edward Beaumont (1537–1574) of Whitley Hall was brother‑in‑law to Samuel Saltonstall (1560) and uncle to Richard Saltonstall (1586–1661). And Richard Saltonstall owed a £20 “forced loan” to Richard Beaumont (1570–1656) of the Lascelles Hall branch.

Figure 6. Folger Digital Image Collection. Source Call Number: X.d.330 (https://luna.folger.edu)

Together, this sets the stage for an interesting story about three Beaumonts and the Great Puritan Migration.[2] 

Richard Saltonstall (1586–1661), a principal investor and leader of the Massachusetts Bay Company—a Puritan enterprise dedicated to building a reformed, godly society—sailed to New England in 1630 aboard the Arbella of the Winthrop Fleet. After landing at Salem in June 1630, he returned to England the following year but continued to hold property in Massachusetts and Connecticut, sending groups of settlers to manage his interests.His son, Richard Saltonstall (1610–1694), married Muriel in 1633 and sailed with his family on the Susan and Ellin in May 1635. In the same expedition, Gamaliel, William, and John Beamond—three unrelated Beaumonts—sailed on the sister ship Elizabeth and Ann. [3] As part of the Great Puritan Migration, they were among the earliest members of the extended Beaumont network to immigrate to America.

Parish Records

In England, civil registration of births, marriages and deaths started in 1837. Before that they were recorded in parish records, which started roughly in 1538. But, for instance, church records at All Hallows, Almondbury, start in 1557. The records at St. Michaels and All Angels, Thornhill, do not start until 23 years later, 1580. And the image of 1580 is unreadable. Gaps exist in the records at Thornhill, too. There is a gap between 1584-1586 and 1594-1599 as well as other years.

In researching the Lascelles Hall and Whitley Beaumonts, the key parish is St. John the Baptist, Kirkheaton, Yorkshire. Unfortunately, Kirkheaton records prior to 1600 are missing, and records between 1600 and 1650 are Bishop’s Transcripts. The gap in records prior to 1600 makes it difficult to connect a modern-day family tree back to these branches.

There are other roadblocks, too.

In the parish records, births were not recorded, only baptisms. For a variety of reasons, not everyone appears in the baptismal records. For instance, Gamaliel Beaman does not seem to appear in any baptismal record anywhere in England.

And there is what I call the “problem of John.” John Beaumont is a common name in West Yorkshire. All of these “Johns” lived in close proximity to each other as well, so it is often difficult to distinguish one John from another. For that matter, there is a similar problem with numerous other given names such as William, Thomas, George, Abraham, etc. Period church records simply do not contain enough information to differentiate between individuals with the same given name, similar birth dates, and living near each other.

It can be said that, in general, family trees are fairly accurate from the present back to the first Census of England compiled in 1841. In these cases, parish records can be paired with census records to give a geographic context that helps distinguish one family from another. In the end, family trees that purportedly connect back to the Lascelles Hall or Whitley Beaumonts should be considered suspect.

[1] Thrush, Andrew and Ferris, John p., eds. The History of Parliament: The House of Commons 1604-1629. Cambridge University Press. 2010 ... https://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1604-1629/member/beaumont-sir-richard-1574-1631. Accessed Aug 2024

[2] Wikitree. https://www.wikitree.com/index.php?title=Category:Puritan_Great_Migration&from=V

[3] Beaumont, Gary. https://beaumont21.wixsite.com/beaumont-y-dna/post/beaumont-beaman-early-1600s-new-england

Figure 7. The thirteen ancient parishes of West Yorkshire include: Almondbury (1557), Batley (1559), Birstall (1558), Dewsbury (1538), Emley (1754), Halifax (1517), High Hoyland, Huddersfield (1562), Kirkburton (1541), Mirfield (1559), Penistone (1643), and Thornhill (1580). St. John the Baptist, Kirkheaton, favored by the Whitley Beaumonts, is located between Huddersfield and Mirfield. The “Beaumont Chapel” was established there by Edward Beaumont (1537-1574) of Whitley stipulated in his will that he wished to be buried “in my own Quire (choir) at Kirkheaton.” Richard Beaumont (1574-1631) was also buried there with his effigy prominently displayed. The earliest church record at Kirkheaton dates to the year 1653. Notes: The year of the first church record for each parish is in parentheses following the parish name. And historically, Almondbury was more important than Huddersfield.

Conclusions

Over a span of 800 years, it is unsurprising to find evidence of assignations or unexpected paternal events. Within the surname project, some individuals named Beaumont have family histories rooted in West Yorkshire but do not share the Y‑DNA profile of the West Yorkshire Beaumont lineage. Conversely, some individuals without the Beaumont surname do share the Y‑DNA signature. Several cases of illegitimacy have been confirmed, and more are likely.

One unique paternal line – Beaumont #983807 – tested as Haplogroup R‑M269 > R‑Z205. FamilyTreeDNA Discover™ suggests this Haplogroup is associated with Danish Vikings, “possibly connected with the Brice Day Massacre in England, 1002 CE.” Danish Vikings formed the ruling elite in West Yorkshire prior to the Norman Conquest. Because Beaumont #983807’s family has a deep history in West Yorkshire, it is plausible that he descends from these Danish Vikings. Marriage was often used as a means of gaining social acceptance, so a Danish Viking may have married a Beaumont woman and adopted her surname to integrate into the local elite.

Another unique Y‑DNA match of particular interest is #240331, even though he does not appear in any table. His family has a long and early history in Scotland. At first glance, this match seems improbable – how could a Scottish lineage connect to the Beaumonts of West Yorkshire? Yet #240331 shares a defining SNP R‑A18420 and differs from EMB by nine steps at Y‑111, suggesting a common ancestor around the time of William de Beaumont III (fl. 1298). This same William is documented in the Galloway Rolls as having fought in Scotland. He took out a letter of protection for service in Gascony in 1294 and appears in the company of household banneret William de Ryther, described as Ryther’s socius—a “companion‑in‑arms.” Beaumont seems to have served with Ryther during the Falkirk campaign of 1298 and again in the king’s household division in 1301. SNP R‑A18420 likely evolved in West Yorkshire and was passed to a male heir in Scotland. If correct, this provides a Y‑DNA connection back to the grandson and heir of William de Bellomonte/Beaumont (1170–1230) – another piece of evidence supporting a continuous male line.

It is important to note that STR and SNP dating are updated with every new DNA test, so dates are always subject to refinement. The dating process is also inherently imprecise: at Y‑111, the “most likely year” is rounded, with a range of +150 years and -200 years. SNP dating carries similar uncertainty. Even so, several SNP dates within the Beaumont surname project align closely with historical records and documented pedigrees.

On their own, DNA results may not reveal much about family history—but when compared and contrasted across multiple testers, a clearer picture emerges. The more testing done on this paternal line, the stronger the conclusions become. So, what do we have as a result of Y‑DNA testing, compiled family trees, and the historical archive of West Yorkshire Beaumonts?

1. A well-documented 1796 lineage by R.H. Beaumont. As lord of Whitley, he had access to manorial records. His handwritten pedigree is not infallible, but it is as accurate as one can reasonably expect, and it serves as a primary‑adjacent source.  

2. A large and coherent Y-DNA cluster in exactly the pattern expected of a single medieval founder whose male descendants proliferated locally.

   1. Nearly 40 matching males (95% probability)

   2. Nearly 30 Big Y tests, producing a tight SNP-defined lineage

   3. A surname cluster overwhelmingly rooted in West Yorkshire

3. SNP dating converges with documentary evidence, placing the common ancestor squarely in the 1100s. One Big-Y sample from Scotland shows a shared SNP R-A18420, providing genetic evidence linked to the grandson of William.

The Y-DNA signature of this lineage is known – even without the physical remains of our ancestors. The conclusion is not speculative: all the available documentary and genetic evidence indicate that William de Bellomonte/Beaumont (fl. 1194–1230) was the progenitor of the modern Beaumont paternal lineage associated with West Yorkshire.

Ancient Connections

Y-DNA is like a time capsule, and so it has even more to offer about the ancient origins of this paternal line. Prior to the FamilyTreeDNA® surname project, one might have speculated that the Beaumonts of West Yorkshire had Norse Viking roots in Normandy, France, and that they were somehow involved in the Norman Conquest of England. As a reward, they were given control of a fiefdom in England. This may be true, but with a twist.

All men alive today share a common male ancestor known as Y-chromosomal Adam, who lived an estimated 200,000 years ago. All Y-DNA, or human paternal lines, evolved from him. Subsequently, 18 Y-DNA branches evolved from Adam, represented by the letters A through R. In visual form, they look like a standard family tree, but instead of names of individuals, the tree is made up of SNPs. For a paternal line, the SNPs are Y-DNA SNPS, and this Y-DNA tree is called a Y-DNA Haplotree. Embedded in a Y-DNA Haplotree is the history, through time and place, of a male lineage.

Again, the Y-DNA Haplotree, or SNP progression, for the West Yorkshire Beaumonts is: R1b → R-M269 → R-L23 → R-L151 → R-P312 → R-L21 → R-Z290 → R-DF13 → R-Z39589 → R-FGC35996 → R-BY9003 →  R-BY81032 → R-BY115264 → R-A18420.

R1b-M269 is the most common European haplogroup (100 million modern individuals) with increasing frequency from east (Poland 22.7%) to west (Wales 92.3%). [19] It formed about 10,000 years ago. [20]

R-L21 is associated with the Early Bronze Age in Britain and Ireland. Its introduction was part of a large genetic transformation associated with the Bell Beaker culture, which largely replaced Britain's earlier Neolithic population. [21] [22] So, the Beaumont Haplotree is Celtic, or the people who migrated from the Continent to the British Isles during the Bronze Age. The Y-DNA of Celts is still present in the British Isles, with especially strong representation in Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and northwest England. [23]

Archaeological Finds

FamilyTreeDNA® Discover Haplogroup Reports™ provides a summary of archaeological finds relevant to this paternal line that appear in peer-reviewed research. The “Discover” page is continuously updated with new archaeological findings, but currently the finds include SNPs that are part of the Beaumont Haplotree, including R-Z39589, R-FGC35996 and R-BY9003.

R-Z39589’s paternal line was formed when it branched from the ancestor R-DF13 and the rest of mankind around 2500 BCE. It is associated with the Bell Beaker culture named after the inverted-bell beaker drinking vessel used during the early Bronze Age. For R-Z30589 there are exceptions. It is also found in archaeological digs in France, Netherlands, the Czech Republic, and Italy.R-FGC35996’s paternal line was formed when it branched from the ancestor R-Z39589 and the rest of mankind around 2450 BCE. The man who is the most recent common ancestor of this line is estimated to have been born around 2300 BCE.

R-BY9003's paternal line was formed when it branched off from the ancestor R-FGC35996 and the rest of mankind around 2250 BCE. The man who is the most recent common ancestor of this line is estimated to have been born around 1900 BCE. There are currently more than 100 DNA tested descendants carrying R-BY9003 at FamilyTreeDNA®, with concentrations in Western Scotland and Wales. [24]

Table 5. Family Tree DNA® "Discover." Accessed April 2026. Available to clients only.

There are many more archaeological finds listed in “Discover” resource. Given the age of these finds, and the fact that they are so widespread in the British Isles, it’s difficult to say much more about these except they are "DNA cousins" of the Beaumonts and clearly Brythonic Celts.

In historical and linguistic terms, Brythonic refers to the branch of Celtic languages that includes Welsh, Cornish, and Breton. Celt is a broad cultural and linguistic label applied to ancient peoples can oversimplify the complex ethnic and linguistic landscape of Iron Age and Roman Britain. Some scholars argue that the term "Brythonic Celt" risks lumping together diverse groups under a single identity that may not have existed in the way we imagine.

The surname “Beaumont,” on the other hand, is French. It harkens back to origins in Normandy, before the Conquest. The next section focuses on the Beaumont family after the Conquest and before its appearance in Yorkshire as well as its connection to Normandy.

Before Yorkshire

The Beaumont surname project documents, in detail, the West Yorkshire branch of the Beaumonts. It starts with William de Bellomonte/Beaumont (fl. 1194-1227) and continues to the present day. The next phase of this research will try to determine the location of William’s family before West Yorkshire.

More than a hundred years passed between the Battle of Hastings (1066) and William’s land grant near Huddersfield, Yorkshire (c. 1205). This gap translates into three or four generations. 

Since Y-DNA contains hints about the historic time and place of a paternal line, the work already completed has implications for the time period before the Beaumont presence in Yorkshire. There may be gaps in the historical record, but there are no gaps in the Y-DNA tree.

To review, the Y-DNA tree of the West Yorkshire Beaumonts is: R1b > R-M269 > R-L23 > R-L151 > R-P312 > R-L21 > R-Z290 > R-DF13 > R-Z39589 > R-FGC35996 > R-BY9003 > R-BY81032 > R-BY115264 > R-A18420.

Assuming SNP R-A18420 (1050 CE plus or minus 200 years) evolved in West Yorkshire, that means SNP R-BY115264 (1000 CE) evolved earlier than 1194 CE, which is the date of the first historical record associated with William (fl. 1194-1227). Besides the West Yorkshire Beaumonts, two additional individuals share SNP R-BY115264 as their terminal SNP: Benfield, B98833, and Flavel, 935316. [25] 

Benfield (Gamble), B98833

Virtually all Benfield’s Y-DNA matches are Beaumonts. His closest STR match is a “Genetic Distance of 10 at the Y-111 test level,” which suggests a shared common paternal line ancestor who was, with a 95% probability, born between 800 and 1600 CE. The most likely year is rounded to 1250 CE. This date is an estimate based on genetic information only.”

Benfield also shares SNP R-BY115264. FamilyTreeDNA® dates R-BY115264 to a “man who is the most recent common ancestor of this line is estimated to have been born around 1000 CE” -- plus or minus 200 years. SNP dating is more accurate than STR dating and there is a range associated with it because SNP mutations are random and can span multiple generations, so this is a ballpark figure.

Benfield, #B98833, has a family history that goes back to the 1500s with the surname Gamble (male line) in Rougham and West Acre, Norfolk. Castle Acre, Rougham, and West Acre are very close to Kerdiston, Norfolk. So, one possibility is that the origin of this paternal line came from the Norfolk Beaumonts, i.e. the family of Godfrey de Bellomonte (fl.1090).

While not listed in the Domesday Book, Godfrey gave tithes at Fulking to Lewes (East Sussex) [26] and tithes of Kerdiston to Castle Acre (Norfolk). [27] Castle Acre priory was a cell of the Lewes priory. Godfrey’s chief lord was William de Warenne, but Kerdiston was likely held under Ralph de Chesney (Quesnay). This would make Godfrey a third-tier individual in the Norman hierarchy. There is a complicated but solid Yorkshire connection here, too.

William de Warenne was known to have fought under William the Conqueror at the Battle of Hastings. Domesday records show that he held land in 13 English counties, including the Rape of Lewes, Sussex; the major manor of Conisbrough, Yorkshire; and Castle Acre, Norfolk, which became his headquarters or caput. In Yorkshire, the Warenne honour actually overlapped the honour of Pontefract.

In 1193 CE, Robert de Lacy, 5^th Baron of Pontefract, died with no children. His wife was Isabella de Warenne, daughter of earl Hamelin de Warenne (1130-1202). In 1194, assuming the surname de Lacy, Roger (1170–1211), Constable of Chester and 7^th Baron of Halton, inherited the honour of Pontefract from Robert. In the same year, we find William de Bellomonte/Beaumont (fl. 1194-1227) in Roger’s inner circle.

There are no historical records that place William in the service of Roger before 1194. There are no historical records that associate William, or a Beaumont family, with Halton, Cheshire, or Lancashire, which was Roger’s turf either. However, in West Yorkshire, there was already a Beaumont, Godfrey (fl. 1206-1234), Constable of Sandal, who was associated with the Warenne honour. Sandal Castle [28] is a mere 10 miles from Huddersfield. The geographic proximity shouldn’t be downplayed.

In this theory, Godfrey de Bellomonte (fl. 1206-1234) was a grandson (degree unknown) of Godfrey (fl. 1090). William (fl. 1194-1227), then, could have also been a legitimate or illegitimate grandson (degree unknown) of Godfrey (fl. 1090), making him a cousin or a brother of Godfrey (fl. 1206-1234). It is difficult to piece together an exact family tree from this era with no birth, marriage, death, or census records. But the association with the Warenne Honour and the surname make the connection.

Figure 7.  Sandal Castle near Wakefield, West Yorkshire, England.

The relationship between Roger (1170-1211) and William may have been one of convenience – William being available in the right place (Yorkshire) at the right time (1194). It could have been an advantageous relationship for the Warennes, too, as a way of looking after their interests in the area. Roger may also have sought out an independent “soldier” as a companion as he entered a new environment with a well-established group of elites. Maybe all three motives were in play.

Flavel, 935316Most of Flavel’s Y-DNA matches are Beaumonts. His closest Beaumont match is a “Genetic Distance of 8 at the Y-111 test level,” which suggests a shared common paternal line ancestor who was, with a 95% probability, born between 1100 and 1700 CE.” The date 1100 is probably closer to being correct.

With the Beaumonts, he also shares SNP R-BY115264 from a Big-Y test, which is dated to 1000 CE.Flavel reports that his oldest-known male ancestor was Thomas Flavel, born in 1829 and married in Antrim, Ireland. It is known that Armagh was populated by English settlers during the Plantation of Ireland, which began in the early 1600s under King James I, but the English Kings had been trying to subdue Northern Ireland for centuries before that. The Flavel surname seems to have arrived in County Armagh and adjacent areas after the Norman Invasion of Ireland in 1169, when many Anglo-Norman families settled in the region. [29] 

Flavel is a rare surname, so would it be possible to find a Flavell in England who was related? A simple count of births and marriages was done for the surname Flavel (16^th century England based on an Ancestry search). The Flavels had an early presence in the Midlands, specifically, the counties surrounding Birmingham, England. The highest concentration of 16^th century Flavels was recorded in Warwickshire, with ten Flavel marriages and thirteen Flavell baptisms. [30] Just as important, the surname Flavel is absent from 16^th century birth or marriage records in Devon or Norfolk, where it is known that 12^th century Beaumont families lived. The are no 16^th century Flavels in Yorkshire either.

Flavell, IN142108, completed a Y-DNA test. His family goes back to the 1500s in Staffordshire, England. His DNA test revealed a rare Haplogroup, G-M201.

This negative correlation between Flavel, 935316, and Flavell, IN142108, suggests a paternal event that occurred in Northern Ireland rather than England. And there is an historical record that connects the Northern Ireland Flavels to the Norfolk Beaumonts at the appropriate time -- Robert de Bellomonte (fl.1210-1216), another grandson (degree unknown) of Godfrey (fl. 1090).

In July 1210, at Carrickfergus, Ireland, [31] Robert was taken prisoner by King John King John (1166-1216), who was intent on subduing several recalcitrant barons there. In this complicated story, William de Braose had fled to Carrickfergus.[32] He was sheltered by William Marshall, lord of Leinster and earl of Pembroke, who was exiled in Ireland. Robert was in service to one of the barons there, perhaps de Braose.

In 1214-15, “The K. to his bailiffs and faithful subjects. On the petition of John Marshall has pardoned Robert de Beaumont, taken in the castle of Carrickfergus. Protection for him. Cirencester. [33] 

In 1216, at the siege of Framlingham Castle (Norfolk, England), [34] Robert was stated to be kinsman and intended hostage for William Lenveise, but he died soon after and was replaced. [35]  

Flavel, 935316, is the proxy for this branch. His ancestor immigrated from Northern Ireland to the United States in 19th century.

DNA testing has identified several other individuals who are part of this branch. A Flavell ancestor of McDonald (Flavel), BP24344, moved from Northern Ireland to Manchester, England late in the 18th century. Later, another Flavell ancestor immigrated to New Zealand. As a result, several Flavell families now live in New Zealand. Also, it is presumed that the Flavells who immigrated from Northern Ireland to Australia are part of this branch.

Needle in a Haystack

There is some benefit in describing the Beaumonts NOT paternally related to the Yorkshire Beaumonts:

The de Brienne Beaumonts started using the name “Beaumont” with Henry (1270-1340), a younger son of Louis de Brienne and Agnes. Agnes was the heiress of the Vicomtes of Maine, who took their name from Beaumont-sur-Sarthe. Being a younger son, Henry did not have an inheritance, which explains why he went to England and served Edward I in the campaign to conquer Scotland. In this case, the surname Beaumont comes from Henry’s mother, so the de Brienne Beaumonts are not paternally related to the various branches of Beaumont found in Devon, Yorkshire, Norfolk, Warwickshire, or Leicestershire. That said, it is possible that there are living males with the surname Beaumont from the de Brienne line.

Roger de Beaumont ( -1094) was one of two Beaumont families mentioned in the Domesday Book. He was a powerful Norman nobleman. He had at least two sons: 1) Robert de Beaumont ( -1118), 1st Earl of Leicester, and 2) Henry ( -1119), 1st Earl of Warwick. Robert fought at the Battle of Hastings -- one of the few known companions of William, Duke of Normandy. This was at the highest level of Norman hierarchy, much higher than the Yorkshire Beaumonts ever were. For that reason alone, a relationship is unlikely. Furthermore, the family stopped using the surname Beaumont was they arrived in England. The moniker was used later by medieval historians. The male line of the family went extinct in the 13^th century, but Thomas (1229-1242), the great great grandson of Henry, was buried at the Collegiate Church of St. Mary, Warwick, which provides the highest probability of finding DNA.

Robert de Beaumont (fl. 1089) is another Beaumont mentioned in the Domesday Book. He was lord over “the peasants” in Ashford, Landcross, Shirwell, Whitestone, Loxhore and Lower Loxhore (Devon). He “paid tax to the tenant-in-chief (Baldwin the Sheriff).” (See Appendix 2.) He is often confused with Robert, 1st Earl of Leicester. To no avail, numerous attempts were made to find an individual who matched the Beaumont Y-DNA and also had an early presence in Devon. The male line of the Devon Beaumonts went extinct in the 16th century. Family members were buried at St. Peter’s Church, Shirwell, Devon. And the last of the male line was Hugh Beaumont ( -1507).

Beaumonts in Normandy

There is a large time gap in the historical records for Benfield and Flavel. Also, in truth, there is no definitive test to answer the question: “Is the shared ancestor a Beaumont? Or a Benfield? Or a Flavell? Taking all the evidence together, however, the probabilities point to a paternal ancestor who was a Beaumont. [36] This analysis is very complicated. It will never be black and white with 100% certainty, and future DNA testing might offer new insights. However, it is the best theory currently available. It isn’t totally conjecture and coincidence either because it is based on Y-DNA SNPs.

A SNP is a permanent mutation that occurs in a single individual. That individual starts a new branch of a male lineage. No other human being on earth except our common male ancestor would have SNP R-BY115264. So, a single male with SNP R-BY115264 started the branch that includes Benfield, Flavell, and all the Yorkshire Beaumonts. With the highest level of probability, there is a shared paternal ancestor between Benfield, Flavel, and the Beaumonts despite the mismatch of surnames. Further, Godfrey de Bellomonte/Beaumont (fl.1090) is the common ancestor. All three branches have been associated with a probable grandson of Godfrey in the appropriate time frame and at the appropriate location. If correct, it leads to speculation of the origin place of the Beaumonts in Normandy.

William de Warenne ( -1088) was among the few known to have fought under William the Conqueror at the Battle of Hastings. He held extensive lands in 13 counties according to the Domesday Book. He was born in Varenne, Normandy. Also, Ralph de Chesney (Quesnay) was from Quesnay, Normandy, leading to speculation that Beaumont-le-Hareng was the origin place of the Norfolk Beaumonts. [37]

“Brythonic Celt" is a broad cultural and linguistic label. Retroactively applying it to this paternal lineage can oversimplify a complex history that occurred in ways we cannot imagine. The same is true of a Norman identity. The question then becomes, “Is it possible for an individual with Brythonic Celt genotype to end up with a French surname and in service to a Norman lord?” The pieces fit together better than one might imagine.

“Beaumont” is a toponymic surname, meaning “beautiful hill.” Normandy, like much of northern France, is full of places named Beaumont, Beaumonte, Beaumount, etc. So, a man could acquire the surname Beaumont simply by living in a specific location.

Also, Normandy was not ethnically “pure Viking.” The Vikings invaded Northwest France in the 8th century and devastated it in the late 9th century. Once settled there, they continued to battle the Franks and the Bretons of Brittany, but they also intermarried to assimilate, forming various alliances to make peace. In the end, Normandy was a hodgepodge of different people.

Brythonic genotypes were present in Normandy before 1066, especially in the Cotentin peninsula. Breton nobles intermarried with Norman families. Breton mercenaries fought in William’s army. And Breton clerics staffed Norman monasteries and chanceries.

The rhetoric of the Norman period emphasized a common history and ethnicity, however. Chronicles of the time spoke of “one bloodline under the dukes of Normandy,” or “Danish-born,” or “speaking the language of Old Norse.” Fraser McNair suggests that this was political rhetoric to essentially “rally the troops,” citing the fact, for instance, that “Ralph of Ivry [38] … would be a good person to have a duke-focused idea of what being Norman actually entailed … he was Richard I’s half-brother, and therefore closely tied to a family that emphasized its Scandinavian blood. But he was not biologically Scandinavian at all: his mother, Sprota, was Breton, and his father, … Esperleng, was Frankish.” [39] Furthermore, if Sprota was a Briton, and if she was William’s great, great grandmother, then Willima was part Briton.

Furthermore, Norman identity was cultural, not genetic. A “Norman” in 1066 was someone who spoke Norman French, held land under the Duke of Normandy, and participated in the feudal military system.

In the end, the only real constant is that a “Norman” was a person who obeyed the duke and was ready to raise his sword in battle to support him. It seems, in a warrior society, the sword was one’s passport. When he invaded England in 1066, if fact, William, Duke of Normandy, brought 7,000 men with him. One-third identified as Frankish. Another third identified as Bretons and were led by Alan of Richmond.

So, by lining up the history, the genetics, and the social realities of 11^th century Normandy, it is absolutely possible for our ancestors to be Brythonic Celt and aligned with a Norman lord. It is possible, historically, grounded and consistent with everything we know about Norman ethnogenesis.

Still, there are a lot of unanswered questions. Did the presence of this paternal lineage in Normandy pre-date the Viking invasion there? Or did our ancestors sail with the Vikings before their presence in Normandy? It is known that, over an extended period, Vikings came into contact with Celts throughout the British Isles, including England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. [40] The Vikings and Celts fought each other, but they also coexisted and made alliances. And the genomics of the Viking world show that they assimilated other people, intermarrying with them, too. [41] There is a lot we will never know. It is a mystery that illustrates the messy history of human migration and genetic mixing.

Conclusion and Perspective

The Y chromosome represents about 2% of the total DNA in a human cell. The remaining 98% comes from all one’s ancestors, male and female. Going back ten generations, a person has 1,024 direct ancestors, almost all unique. Going back 20 generations, the number jumps to over a million. All these people have had a hand in making us who we are, not to mention culture, environment and even chance. So, it is important to put Y-DNA matching in perspective.

Most of the Y-DNA matching in the project reaches the 95% probability level, but the associated date ranges are wide and leave room for significant uncertainty. Add to this, historical records are sparse to nonexistence as one goes back further in time. Together, it says that this analysis, especially the oldest assumptions, should be taken as a theory to be tested further. Increasing the sample size for every known branch of this paternal line would expand the dataset, clarifying the deeper roots of the Beaumonts as well as the later branches. Nevertheless, the theory laid out here is the only theory that ties up a lot of loose ends, and it is the only one with Y-DNA evidence to back up the claims.

It has been said that a book can bring the dead back to life, but so can a DNA surname project. Based on the Y chromosome and the fact that it is inherited from father to son, and adding in the archaeological evidence, West Yorkshire Beaumonts were Brythonic Celts. They lived in England as early as the Bronze Age, when earlier Neolithic populations were displaced. Somehow, the Beaumonts ended up in France, where they adopted the surname.

The Beaumont surname made its first appearance in England in the Domesday Book as well as other post-Conquest historical records -- well before the widespread adoption of surnames.

The Normans brought significant political and social change to England. Their feudal system was heavily male dominated. As a result, a family could advance itself by simply producing sons. The more the better. This seems to be the case for the West Yorkshire Beaumonts.

By the mid-1500s, when church records began, Beaumonts can be found in virtually every county of England. By the first Census of England, in 1841, there were nearly 5,500 Beaumont living in England with more than half living in Yorkshire.

The surname project now demonstrates that, if one shares the surname, or some variation of it, and if one matches Y-STRs at virtually any level of testing, there is a 95 percent probability of a shared paternal ancestor with the West Yorkshire Beaumonts. Also, a shared SNP, regardless of the surname, produces a high probability of a shared paternal ancestor. And the likely progenitor of this family was Godfrey de Bellomonte/Beaumont (fl.1090) of Norfolk, England.

Part 2: William de Bellomonte

References:

[1] The 1841 Census of England suggests Almondbury is the demographic epicenter for the Beaumonts in Yorkshire. Nearly 25% of the census records are from there. Besides Almondbury, the Almondbury District includes Holmfirth, Hall Bower, Honley, Lockwood, Longley, Meltham, Netherton, Newsome, Slaithwaite, South Crosland, and Upperthong. By adding neighboring Huddersfield where, by the middle of the 19th century, a growing number of mills and factories attracted workers, the percentage of census records for “Beaumont” increases to nearly 40%. Finally, Almondbury was historically more important than Huddersfield.

[2] Family Tree DNA. n.d. Beaumont Surname Project. Accessed January 2023 …

 https://www.familytreedna.com/groups/beaumont/activity-feed

[3] Dodsworth, Roger. 1884. Dodsworth’s Yorkshire Notes (Agbrigg).” The Yorkshire Archaeological and Topographical Journal. 1884. Vol. VIII, p. 502 … https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Yorkshire_Archaeological_Journal/vDI4jOQFbTMC   

[4] Kirklees, West Yorkshire Archive Service. KCZ0001 – “BEAUMONT OF WHITLEY, FAMILY AND ESTATE RECORDS.” Catalog Finding Number: DD/WB.

[5] Macray, William Dunn. 1884. The Beaumont Papers. London: Roxburghe Club.

[6] Beaumont, E.M. Beaumont Archives, No. 1/157.

[7] Beaumont, E.M. http://beaumontarchives.blogspot.com/p/about.html. Accessed January 2023.

[8] In medieval England, families generally practiced primogeniture, where the eldest son inherited the title and lands. Younger sons were called “cadet sons,” which had specific social, economic, and cultural implications. Cadet sons typically received smaller inheritances or none at all.

[9] Foster, Joseph. Pedigrees of the County Families of Yorkshire. London, 1874. pp. 34 ... https://archive.org/details/pedigreesofcount01fost. (Lascelles Hall Beaumonts)

[10] Burke, Bernard. A Genealogical Dictionary of the Landed Gentry. Henry Colburn, London. 1834. Volume 2. PP. 319-23 ... https://archive.org/details/agenealogicalan00austgoog/agenealogicalan00austgoog

[11] Edward M. Beaumont. https://beaumontarchives.blogspot.com/2021/07/the-first-whitley-charters-2-texts.html. Accessed March 2025.

[12] Transcribed and translated from the original “Feoffment of a capital messuage and lands in Whitley.” West Yorkshire Archive Service (Kirklees) KCZ0001 - BEAUMONT OF WHITLEY, FAMILY AND ESTATE RECORDS (DD/WB) Catalogue Finding Number: DD/WBD/IX/1. The document is dated 1232-1240 based on the years that John de Lacy was Earl of Lincoln.

[13] Burke, Bernard. Burke's Genealogical and Heraldic History of Peerage, Baronetage. Harrison & Sons. 1915. PP. 92-93 ... https://archive.org/details/b3136410x/b3136410x  (Allendale)

[14] Transcribed and translated from the original “Feoffment of a capital messuage and lands in Whitley.” West Yorkshire Archive Service (Kirklees) KCZ0001 - BEAUMONT OF WHITLEY, FAMILY AND ESTATE RECORDS (DD/WB) Catalogue Finding Number: DD/WBD/IX/1. The document is dated 1232-1240 based on the years that John de Lacy was Earl of Lincoln.

[15] The entry level Y-DNA test is the Y-37 test. It can be used to identify individuals related to the West Yorkshire Beaumonts. However, the Y-111 test is recommended because it produces nearly three times the data of the Y-37 test. These tests identify Y-DNA STRs and STR matches. Generally, the lower the number of STR differences between individuals, the more recent the common male ancestor. And the more STRs measured, the higher the accuracy.

[16] Thrush, Andrew and Ferris, John p., eds. The History of Parliament: The House of Commons 1604-1629. Cambridge University Press. 2010 ... https://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1604-1629/member/beaumont-sir-richard-1574-1631. Accessed Aug 2024

[17] Ryther is a village between Leeds and York with links to the Pontefract honour.

[18] Simpkin, David. “The Galloway Roll (1300): Its Content, Composition and Value to Military History.” Historical Research. Volume 82 (2009), Issue 218, pp. 613–34.

[19] Wikipedia. n.d. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haplogroup_R-M269. Accessed June 2022.

[20] Wikipedia. n.d. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haplogroup_R-M269. Accessed Dec. 2023.

[21] Wikipedia. n.d. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haplogroup_R-L21. Accessed Dec. 2023.

[22] Patterson, N., Isakov, M., Booth, T. et al. 2022. “Large-scale migration into Britain during the Middle to Late Bronze Age.” Nature. 601: 588–594 ... https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-021-04287-4

[23] The Anglo-Saxon invasion, starting in the 5th century, caused a dilution of Celtic Y-DNA in southeast England.

[24] Family Tree DNA. n.d. https://discover.familytreedna.com/y-dna/R-BY9003/story. Accessed Dec. 2023.

[25] Because of surname difference, advanced Y-DNA testing test was used for comparison. Sharing a SNP indicates a common paternal ancestor with high probability, aiding in identifying relatives beyond surname barriers.

[26] Farrer, William. Honors and Knights’ Fees. Manchester, 1925. Volume III, Honour of Warenne. Page 310.

[27] Edward M. Beaumont. Beaumont Archives Blog. https://beaumontarchives.blogspot.com/2015/06/beaumonts-of-norfolk-suffolk-first.html.

[28] Google Maps. n.d. https://maps.app.goo.gl/pVEVcFibxUykt7Vp6. Accessed February 2025.

[29] Several modern branches are emerging from DNA testing. The family of Flavell, 935316, immigrated from Northern Ireland to the United States in 19th century.  The family of McDonald (Flavel), BP24344, moved from Northern Ireland to Manchester, England late in the 18th century, then later immigrated to New Zealand. Another branch immigrated from Northern Ireland to Australia.

[30] Ancestry. n.d. https://www.ancestry.com/search/categories/34/?name=_Flavel*&event=_Warwickshire-England-United+Kingdom_5288&location=3257.3250&priority=english&record_f=1500-1599&searchMode=advanced. Accessed December 2024.

[31] Google Maps. n.d. https://maps.app.goo.gl/D66rEQWcWfprRkid6. Accessed February 2025.

[32] MacKay, Ronan, contributor. Dictionary of Irish Biography. https://www.dib.ie/biography/braose-briouze-briouse-william-de-a0902. Accessed February 2025.

[33] Sweetman, H.S., editor. Calendar of Documents Pertaining to Ireland: 1171-1251. London, 1875. Page 534. Original: Hardy, T.D., editor. Rotuli Litterarum Patentium in Turri Londinensi Asservati. 1835. 16 John, p.1, m7.

[34] Google Maps. n.d. https://maps.app.goo.gl/4Za67hsDmc7MNSSC9. Accessed February 2025.

[35] Rotuli Litterarum Clausarum. i. 254b, 259

[36] Benfield and Flavel are not very close STR matches. They don’t match at Y-111, and their match at Y-67 is a Genetic Distance of 6 steps., which suggests a Beaumont as a more likely progenitor.

[37] Google Maps. n.d. https://maps.app.goo.gl/TnVdW54Qu5osT2wF9. Accessed February 2025.

[38] Karlsson, A., Wallerström, T., Götherström, A. et al. “Y-chromosome diversity in Sweden – A long-time perspective.” European Journal of Human Genetics volume 14, pages963–970 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejhg.5201651 

[39] Ralph was the son of Eperleng Sprota. But Sprota was also the mother of Richard I of Normandy by William I, Duke of Normandy, making Rodolf the Duke's half-brother. When Richard died in 996, Ralph took effective power during the minority of his nephew, Richard II of Normandy, alongside the boy's mother, Gunnor. Wikipedia n.d. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rodulf_of_Ivry. Accessed December 2024.

[40] Kneale, Alastair. 2013. “Celts and Vikings - Scandinavian Influences on the Celtic Nations.” Transceltic. https://www.transceltic.com/pan-celtic/celts-and-vikings-scandinavian-influences-celtic-nations#:. Accessed January 2023.

[41] Margaryan, A., Lawson, D.J., Sikora, M. et al. 2020. “Population Genomics of the Viking World.” Nature. 585, pp. 390–396 ... https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-020-2688-8