The Medieval Origins of West Yorkshire Beaumonts

By Gary Beaumont, February 2025

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. Second, since the 1700s, his family actively saved information that is key to the story of the Beaumonts. Third, he doggedly searched archives for relevant historical records. 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 appears in West Yorkshire, England, under the patronage of the Constable of Chester, or Roger de Lacy (c.1165-1211), a well-known baron who inherited the Honour of Pontefract in 1194 CE. By the 1841 Census of England, there were nearly 2,900 individuals with the surname Beaumont living in Yorkshire, mostly around Huddersfield in West Yorkshire.[1] So, the family grew and prospered and, today, descendants can be found in locations around the world. With this in mind, is it possible to use Y-DNA to determine the origins of this family and to prove that William was 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] as well as the historic paper trail, powerful argument exists that our Beaumont ancestors traveled through time and place – from roaming the North Sea, settling in Normandy, finding a place in Norman England, and finally establishing themselves in West Yorkshire, England – the place where William de Bellomonte/Beaumont (fl. 1194-1227) settled and became the progenitor of many, but certainly not all, modern-day Beaumonts with roots centered around Huddersfield.  

The Y-DNA of William de Bellomonte/Beaumont is unavailable, but his history lives on in the DNA of his descendant -- E.M. Beaumont. Edward 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 from 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, which in 1796 CE, he sent to a member of EMB's family. [6]

Table 1. E.M. Beaumont’s male lineage, including his connection to the Whitley Beaumonts. It is complicated and requires explanation.

This table shows a continuous male line from WBB to EMB, but obviously this is not proof of a continuous male line. A Y-DNA sample from WBB that matches EMB would be the ultimate proof, but it is unlikely that the grave of WBB will ever be found.

Generally, the information in the table comes from publicly available, published sources. The older information is less reliable and is associated with fewer corroborating historical records.

The table shows EMB’s relationship with RHB, most recently through Frances Beaumont (1704-1735), and earlier through common male ancestors, which includes WBB through Henry (c. 1335-1400).

The table is incomplete. For instance, only two women are included. Non-inheriting sons, for the most part, are not included. In a system of non-partible inheritance, the eldest son inherits the estate. Younger sons, or non-inheriting sons, form cadet branches, secondary to the main heir.

Column 2 the Lascelles Hall Beaumonts. Henry Beaumont (d. 1468/9) married Joan Lassell and inherited Lascelles Hall in 1434 when her father, John Lassell, died. At one point, there were two Lascelles Halls adjacent to each other between Lepton and Kirkheaton. The older hall belonged to the Beaumont family, and the newer hall was built by the Ramsden family in the late 16th century. The newer structure survives.

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 Whitley 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. This male line 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 from the Lascelles Hall Beaumonts.

William I 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 II (fl. 1250) acquired the Whitley property.

“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 …”

William de Bellomonte III (fl. 1298) married the daughter of Richard de Fossato. By this marriage William acquired Crosland Hall. He gave land in Huddersfield, Crosland Foss, North Crosland, Meltham and South Kirby to his son, Robert.

Henry Beaumont (c.1335-1400) is a key figure because at least three lines of descent came from him.

Again, E.M. Beaumont (EMB) is the proxy for this paternal line. To date, he matches more than 30 individuals in the surname project. Most of these matches have the surname Beaumont, a variation of the surname Beaumont, or a proven connection to the surname Beaumont. The individuals with a different surname have a shared SNP, which is a guarantee of a shared paternal ancestor.

Most of the testing has been Family Tree DNA’s (FTDNA) basic Y-37 [11] test. Although limited, it is valid in determining a Y-DNA connection, but FTDNA’s advanced Big-Y test has produced the greatest insight into this paternal line.

The Beaumont surname project now has 21 completed Big-Y tests. This test identifies SNP mutations, which are permanent mutations in the Y-chromosome. A Y-chromosome mutation occurs randomly, so these SNPs are difficult to precisely date, but each new mutation that occurs is a once-in-all-of-human-history event, making it unique to a single male and all of his male offspring. So, each new SNP starts a new branch of the paternal line.

In all, this is a rich dataset that offers meaningful conclusions and hypotheses. First, it produces a sequence of SNPS called a Y-DNA Haplotree. The Y-DNA Haplotree for 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.

Four main branches of the West Yorkshire Beaumonts are identified by 1) R-FT377951, 2) R-FT377591, 3) R-FTC40866, and 4) R-FTA79395. More branches could exist, but for now the number of branches is holding steady. Do the branches in Table 2 correspond to the three branches in Table 1?

R-FT377951 is the oldest branch. By that I mean, so far, everyone in Table 2 shares this SNP. FTDNA dates R-FT377951 to 1150 CE. FTDNA says, “The man who is the most recent common ancestor of this line is estimated to have been born around 1150 CE.” So, this branch is the earliest of all the branches, going back to the very beginning of the Beaumont family in West Yorkshire.

Two individuals share R-FT377951 as their “terminal” [12] SNP: #IN96915, and Louis Bickel (deceased). Again, EMB is the proxy for the paternal line of the Beaumonts of West Yorkshire. FTDNA says, “Based on a Genetic Distance of 9 at the Y-111 test level, #IN96915 and Edward M. Beaumont are estimated to share a common paternal line ancestor who was, with a 95% probability, born between 950 and 1650 CE. The most likely year is rounded to 1350 CE.” This means that the common ancestor with Edward would have been born sometime between William de Bellomonte/Beaumont (c. 1170-c. 1230) and Henry Beaumont (1335-1400) and was probably from a cadet branch.

R-FT377591 defines a branch that is clearly EMB’s branch (Table 1, Column 1). It includes FTD89894 and R-FT415852, which are downstream of R-FT377591. Five individuals in the table share R-FT377591, and FTDNA estimates that it dates to about 1450, which would be downstream from Henry Beaumont (1335-1400).

Table 2. Everyone in this table shares SNP R-FT377591 (in green). When individuals share a Y-DNA SNP, they share a common male ancestor with almost 100% certainty. SNP R-FT377591 was formed when it branched off from the ancestor SNP R-FT377951 and the rest of humankind around 1200 CE.

According to FTDNA, the man who is the most recent common ancestor of R-FT37791 is estimated to have been born around 1450 CE, which suggests that John Beaumont (fl. 1442) is the common ancestor of all the individuals in this table.

A more recent branch formed, downstream, at SNP R-FTD89894 (EMB, #IN91692 & DCD, #991001) (highlighted in orange). This paternal line branched off from R-FT377591 around 1450 CE. The man who is the most recent common ancestor of this line is estimated to have been born around 1500 CE. It’s difficult to name the actual common ancestor, however.

Another more recent branch formed at SNP R-FT415852 (RB, #392890 & CRB, #IN136354) (highlighted in rose). This paternal branch was formed when it branched off from the ancestor R-FT377591 and the rest of humankind around 1450 CE. 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.

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.

Figure 2. 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.

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), making a brother of Lawrence Beaumont (fl. 1472) is the progenitor of this branch. His brothers were: John, Thomas, Henry, William, Nicholas, and George. The lack of records makes it difficult or even impossible to fill in the missing two generations.

Two additional branches of this paternal line have emerged from the Y-DNA testing: R- FTA79395 (1300) and R- FTC40866 (1500). There are no historical records or Y-DNA tests to link these branches to the Whitley Beaumonts or to the Lascelles Hall Beaumonts. Both branches have gone extinction. There are numerous men in each generation of the Lascelles and Whitley Beaumonts who could have formed cadet branches responsible for R- FTA79395 R- FTC40866, but they were born before church records, making it difficult to link family lines to them.

Lascelles Hall Beaumonts

Richard H. Beaumont (1749-1810) died without issue. His brother, John (1752-1820), inherited. John’s son, Charles (1777-1813), died before his father, so Charles’ son, Richard Henry (1805-1857), inherited. The male lineage of this paternal line died with the passing of Richard Henry in 1857. Then, his godson, Henry F. Beaumont (1833-1913), inherited the Whitley estate. Henry F. was a descendant of Thomas (1724-1783) in Table 1, Column 1 and a cousin of EMB. As a result, there is no known living male from the Lascelles Hall Beaumonts, so it is not possible to compared Y-DNA to establish a connection to this paternal line.

The surname project does have a descendant of Charlotte Beaumont (1779-1815). Charlotte was the sister of Charles (1777-1813) and the aunt of Richard Henry (1805-1857). In 1857, by Royal authority, her son, Richard Henry John Beaumont McCumming, was licensed to “assume and use” the surname Beaumont. Obviously, his male descendants would not match the West Yorkshire Beaumont Y-DNA profile because the paternal line would be McCumming, and the connection to the Beaumonts would be maternal. In any case, the ancestor is #B1054617, and he has autosomal (transferred) results on FTDNA. Again, there are no matches with any surname project member.

Note: FTDNA offers an autosomal DNA test called “Family Finder.” Autosomal results are useful going back perhaps six generations. I have made connections back eight generations. However, most of the connections to the Lascelles  and Whitley Beaumonts go back twelve generations or more, which makes the Family Finder test unreliable.

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 named Thomas Beaumont (1606-1668) of the Lascelles Beaumonts to inherit the Whitely estate, and he made provisions for two illegitimate daughters. He is buried at St. John the Baptist, Kirkheaton, Yorkshire.

One important caveat: in the strictest sense, establishing a genetic connection to an individual requires access to that person’s DNA. For example, to assert a link to Richard Beaumont (1574–1631), his genetic material would be necessary. Without it, any proposed connection to the Whitley Beaumonts remains speculative -- a theory rather than a proven fact.

Figure 3. Here lyeth interred the Body of Sir Richard Beaumont (1574-1631) 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

Table 3. Two additional branches of the West Yorkshire Beaumonts have emerged from the Y-DNA testing. The four columns on the left represent the branch identified by the SNP R-FTA79395, which FTDNA dates to circa 1300 CE.  The three columns on the right represent the branch identified by the SNP R-FTC40866, which FTDNA dates to circa 1550 CE. Naming the shared ancestor, James Beaumont (1700-149) is speculative. It seems, after his death, all of his children immigrated to America. Additional testing is needed to confirm this connection, especially an individual from England with an extensive family tree.

Other Factoids

One unique Y-DNA match of particular interest is #240331, even though he does not appear in this table. He and his family have a long and early history in Scotland. At first glance, this match would seem to be a mistake. How can #240331 from Scotland be related to the Beaumonts of West Yorkshire? #240331 shares SNP R-A18420 and is 9 steps different from EMB at Y-111, suggesting that his most recent common ancestor was William de Beaumont III (fl. 1298). This same William is known to have fought in Scotland because he appears in the Galloway Rolls. He took out a letter of protection for service in Gascony in 1294. Beaumont is listed there in the company of the household banneret, William de Ryther [13] and is referred to as “Ryther’s Socius.” In this context the term “socius” was a synonym for “companion-in-arms.” Beaumont appears to have served with Ryther on the Falkirk campaign of 1298 and was definitely with him in the king’s household division in 1301. [14] So, the SNP R-A18420 could have evolved in West Yorkshire. It is also one more piece of evidence that the Haplotree is dated correctly and, if correct, provides a Y-DNA connection all the way back to the grandson and heir of William de Bellomonte/Beaumont (1170-1230).

For branch R-FTC40866, there are Family Finder (autosomal) connections to Squire Boone, father of Daniel Boone, which corroborates oral family histories. Squire Boone led a group of people from Pennsylvania to North Carolina in the mid-1700s. And Daniel Boone led settlers through the Cumberland Gap into Kentucky later in the 1700s.

People being people, there is evidence of various assignations or unexpected paternal events, which is not surprising given the fact that we are talking about a period of 800 years or more. So, individuals in the surname project have the surname Beaumont, but they do not match the shared Y-DNA profile. And there are individuals in the surname project who do not share the surname, but they do share the Y-DNA profile. The reasons? In the surname project there are two confirmed cases of illegitimacy, but there are probably more unconfirmed cases. Already mentioned is a surname change. There is also the possibility of infidelity and secret adoption. 

In fact, EMB’s closest match is #991001. They match at SNP FTD89894. Since the surname differ, it is likely that a woman with the surname Durrance gave birth to a son whose father was a Beaumont, and that son retained the surname Durrance. Or a woman became pregnant by a Beaumont, and then she married a Durrance, giving the surname Durrance to the son. Although Humphrey (1515-1568) in EMB’s column is assigned SNP R-FTD89894, he isn’t necessarily the common ancestor. The common ancestor could be from one generation before or after Humphrey.

  Family Trees

It may be possible to fill in the blanks on the various family trees back to the late 1500s. However, there are many roadblocks.

Generally, family trees are fairly accurate from the present back to the first Census of England, compiled in 1841. Church records paired with census records give a geographic context that helps distinguish one family from another.

Prior to 1841 CE, church records are the only available source of genealogical information, and they have the “problem of John,” as I call it. “John Beaumont” is such a common name in West Yorkshire, and they all lived in close proximity, so it is 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 in close proximity to each other.

There are also gaps in church records. For instance, church records at All Hallows, Almondbury, start in 1557. However, the records at St. Michaels and All Angels, Thornhill, don’t start until 23 years later, 1580. And the image for 1580 is unreadable. Gaps exist in the records at Thornhill, too, between 1584-1586 and 1594-1599 as well as other years.

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

The abbreviation “MRCA” in the table stands for ”time to the most recent common ancestor.” It represents a FTDNA estimate based on STR differences between EMB and other individuals.  A MRCA dated to around 1350 CE is at least 200 years before church records appeared, and the common ancestor could be anyone from any of the branches, the various major and minor sons, and possibly the illegitimate sons. It is, therefore, highly unlikely, with an MRCA of 1350 CE, that one could name their common ancestor to EMB. In these cases, Y-DNA may be the only genealogical clue to the origins of some branches of this paternal line, especially for the earliest matches.

It should also be noted that FTDNA’s dating of the various SNPs and STR matches is not precise. Even at Y-111, “the most likely year” is rounded and the range for that date is plus 150 years and minus 200 years. The same is true for dating SNPs. Also, FTDNA is continually updating the dates based on new testing, so the dating process is a constantly moving target.  

In isolation, these DNA results do not necessarily offer many insights into one’s family history though. It’s in comparing and contrasting with others that a clearer picture emerges. That’s has been the goal of the Beaumont surname project on FTDNA. And by combining Y-DNA, the historic paper trail, the surname “Beaumont,” the location “West Yorkshire,” we know, with a high level of certainty, the individuals in this table are paternally related with the likely progenitor being William de Bellomonte/Beaumont (c. 1170-c. 1230).

Figure 4. 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 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.

Ancient Connections

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 FTDNA 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%). [15] It formed about 10,000 years ago. [16]

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. [17] [18] 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. [19]

Archaeological Finds

FTDNA’s “Discover Haplogroup Reports” provides a summary of archaeological finds relevant to this paternal line that appear in peer-reviewed research. FTDNA is continuously updating the “Discover” page 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 76 DNA tested descendants at FTDNA, with concentrations in Western Scotland and Wales. [20]

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 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. [21] 

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. FTDNA 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) [22] and tithes of Kerdiston to Castle Acre (Norfolk). [23] 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 [24] 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.

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. [25] 

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. [26] 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, [27] 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.[28] 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. [29] 

In 1216, at the siege of Framlingham Castle (Norfolk, England), [30] Robert was stated to be kinsman and intended hostage for William Lenveise, but he died soon after and was replaced. [31]  

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, the balance of probabilities points toward a paternal connection to the Beaumonts.[32] 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. [33]

“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. For instance, how did a Brythonic Celt find his way from England to Normandy? 

Actually, the Celts inhabited Normandy between the Bronze Age and the Roman occupation, predating the Normans. So, one possibility is that the family was already in Normandy when the Vikings arrived.

The Romans conquered Normandy in 56 BCE and called it Gallia Lugdunensis. After the fall of Rome in the 5th century, the Franks became the dominant ethnic group in the area. It is also important to remember that, with pressure from the Anglo Saxon in England, Britons migrated to Brittany, France. Their territorial control reached North, into the Cotentin and, at times, Normandy. So, maybe the Beaumonts were already in Normandy before the Vikings arrived.The Vikings 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 and formed various alliances to make peace. In the end, Normandy was a hodgepodge of different people. Thinking differently is an oversimplification. This is especially true with regard to Y-DNA Haplogroups. For one, all Scandinavians are not all of the same Haplogroup. Four distinct Haplogroups (I1a, R1b3, R1a1, and N3) account for about 80% of Scandinavian men. [34]

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 [35] … 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.” [36] Furthermore, if Sprota was a Briton, and if she was William’s great, great grandmother, then Willima was part Briton.

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.

Conclusion

So, did the presence of this paternal lineage in Normandy pre-date the Viking invasion there? If so, how did he retain his standing there? Or did he sail with the Vikings before their presence in Normandy? It is known that, over an extended period of time, Vikings came into contact with Celts throughout the British Isles, including England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. [37] The Vikings and Celts fought each other, but they also coexisted and made alliances. And the genomics of the Viking world shows that they assimilated other people, intermarrying with them, too. [38] We simply do not know.

It is also important to put this analysis in perspective. First, 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. The fact that the Y chromosome is inherited from father to son is central to the findings in this report, but clearly it is only a small part of our genetic profile, and many other factors go into making us who we are.

Second, SNP dating is generally more reliable than STR dating. Most of the estimates in this document reach the 95% probability level, but the wide date ranges associated with them leave room for significant uncertainty. Add on to this the fact that the historical records are sparse to nonexistent 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.

Nevertheless, the theory laid out here is the only one that ties up a lot of loose ends, and it is the only one with Y-DNA evidence to back up the claims.

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 Beaumonts. And Y-DNA is particularly good at identifying male lineages, especially Y-DNA SNPs.

The Y-DNA and the archaeological data are clear. The Beaumonts were Brythonic Celts. They lived in England as early as the Bronze Age, displacing earlier Neolithic populations. Somehow, the Beaumonts ended up in France, where they adopted the surname. After the Conquest, one branch of the family was awarded land in England, and the family grew from there.

The surname makes its first appearance in the Domesday Book as well as other post-Conquest historical records -- well before the widespread adoption of surnames. 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 of those living in Yorkshire.

While the focus of the surname project began with West Yorkshire Beaumonts, it 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. Also, a shared SNP, regardless of the surname, produces a high probability of a shared paternal ancestor. Finally, Godfrey de Bellomonte/Beaumont (fl.1090) of Norfolk, England, was likely the first identifiable male in this paternal line to appear in England’s recorded history. And his family likely originated in Beaumont-le-Hareng, France.

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%. Historically, Almondbury was 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. 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, Edward M. Beaumont Archives, No. 1/157.

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

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

[9] Foster, Joseph. Pedigrees of the County Families of Yorkshire. London, 1874. pp. 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 (Whitley Beaumonts)

[11] The entry level Y-DNA test at FTDNA 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.

[12] A "terminal” SNP refers to the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) that marks the most recent known subclade on a genetic family tree, indicating the latest branch in a person's paternal lineage based on current research. FTDNA estimates that there are six downstream variants remaining in this branch, which could be determined by testing a close male relative.

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

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

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

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

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

[18] 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

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

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

[21] Because of surname difference, FTDNA’s Big-Y test was used for comparison. Not only does FTDNA’s Y-DNA database large, but its Big-Y test is highly robust in that it determines permanent Y-DNA mutations (SNPs). Sharing a SNP indicates a common paternal ancestor with high probability, aiding in identifying relatives beyond surname barriers.

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

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

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

[25] 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.

[26] 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.

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

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

[29] 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.

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

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

[32] 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.

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

[34] 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 

[35] 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.

[36] McNair, Fraser. “The politics of being Norman in the reign of Richard the Fearless, Duke of Normandy (r. 942–996).” Early Medieval Europe, 2015 23 (3).

[37] 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.

[38] 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