Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland

From Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland
By E. Seary, William Kirwin
pg 33

BEM(M)ISTER, surnames of England, from the English place name Beaminster (Dorset), so pronounced locally. (Reaney). Traced by Matthews in Poole (Dorset) and Christchurch (Hampshire).

In Newfoundland:

Family traditions: John Banister (1747-1832), probably the first Bemister to winter in Carbonear, started the family which survived there until recently, and was buried at Cork Mullen (Dorset) (MUN Folklore), William Henry, from Brighton (Sussex), settled at St. John's between 1865-1875 (MUN Folklore).

Early instances: George, schoolmaster of Bonavista, 1791 (USPG); William Bemister, from Christchurch (Hampshire), planter of Green Bay, deceased 1814 (Royal Gazette 10 Nov 1814): Thomas Beaminster, of Greenspond, 1815 (DPHW 76): W.W. Bemister, of Harbour Grace, 1817 (D'Alberti 27); Edward, planter of Freshwater (Carbonear), 1823 (DPHW 48); Reuben, of New Perlican. 1859 (DPHW 59A); William, of Hare Bay (Bonavista B.), 1871 (Lovell).

Modern status: At St. John's and Ragged Harbour (Fogo district).