Beaufort

Beaufort is a name with several uses in geography, history, and science. The word derives from the French beau fort, meaning “beautiful fort,” and has been adopted as a place name and surname in various European languages.

In meteorology and navigation, the Beaufort scale is a wind force scale for estimating wind speed based on observed conditions at sea or on land. Introduced by Royal Navy officer Sir Francis Beaufort in 1805, it runs from 0 (calm) to 12 (hurricane force). The scale remains widely referenced in maritime, meteorological, and aviation contexts, though actual wind speeds are now typically given in metric or imperial units alongside the descriptor.

In heraldry and nobility, Beaufort is the name of a prominent English noble house and the associated title Duke of Beaufort. The House of Beaufort traces its origins to the Plantagenets, and members of the family have played roles in politics and society across centuries.

Beaufort is also used as a place name. Notable examples include Beaufort, North Carolina, and Beaufort, South Carolina, in the United States; Fort Beaufort in South Africa; and Beaufort in the Doubs department of France.

The Beaufort surname is carried by individuals and may refer to various historical references, including the Beaufort cipher, a substitution cipher devised by Sir Francis Beaufort in the 19th century. The cipher is a variant of the Vigenère and is sometimes described as reciprocal.