Beresford Family Genealogy
The Beresford Family has a history which stretches back in time further than the history
of most English families. It's earliest recorded Deed relates to a certain John de Beresford who held the manor of Beresford in Staffordshire, and is dated 4th October 1087.
There is a strong argument to suggest that the Beresford's held their Manor, around the stretch of Dovedale now called Beresford Dale, well before the Norman Conquest in 1066, and the family were in fact pre-Saxon.
Over the centuries since 1087 the family has played its part fully in the history of our country. One member in particular, Thomas Beresford of Fenny Bentley, married into the Cheshire family of Hassall and his wife Agnes bore him sixteen sons and five daughters. Thomas fought at the Battle of Agincourt in 1415 and later raised a Troop of Horse comprising eight of his sons and their retainers for service in the French Wars.
It is from the sons of this Thomas that the present main branches of the family descend. The present Head of the House of Beresford, Mr. J. Christopher Beresford is the descendant of Thomas's third son, Hugh, and 29th Head of the family in a line which stretches back nine hundred years to John of 1087.
The descendants of Thomas's fifth son, Robert, are flourishing today both in England and abroad, whilst the descendants of Humphrey, Thomas's sixth son, are represented in the branch headed by the Marquess of Waterford.
Apart from the Marquess of Waterford and the Earl of Tyrone, the family titles have included two Viscounts, five Barons and a number of baronets and knights. The family has produced three Archbishops, four Bishops, two Admirals, six Generals, three Circuit Judges and a great number of MPs. Its members have achieved me Victoria Cross, six Olympic Medals and other sporting honours.
Family Genealogy Data
The following data has been prepared from a GEDCOM output of our genealogy database...
Family Stories
- The story of William Beresford (1815-1856) - by his great-grand son Bertram
- Bertram Patrick Anthony Beresford - The Early Years (June 1917 to June 1936)
- Father James Joseph Wiemers (1908 - 1984)
- Janet Glover Edith Reece (1888-1963) - Story written by her daughter Heather