English (or Norman origin) and French: habitational name from any of several places in France, for example in Manche and Somme, that are named with Old French beu, bel ‘fair’, ‘lovely’ + champ(s) ‘field’, ‘plain’. In English the surname is generally pronounced Beecham.
FOREBEARS Two families of this name which were prominent in the 13th and 14th centuries in England. One was established in Somerset, the other in Warwickshire, and there is no apparent connection between them.Beauchamp is also found as a Frenchification of the Scottish family name Campbell, due to an erroneous Latinization of the latter as Campo Bello. Beauchamp lines in Canada descend from two brothers from La Rochelle, whose father was called Deschamps as well as Beauchamp. They were in Montreal by 1661. One was also known as Le Grand Beauchamp and the other as Le Petit Beauchamp.
