where and when did the phrase “Heavens to Betsy” come from?

That’s a tough one — the when is possible (first known written use = 1892), and I will say that you’re not likely to hear it much (seems old-fashioned). but no one’s really sure about the exact origins.

But here’s some info that might help a bit.

“Heavens!” itself is a common substitute for “God” for obvious reasons (Such a practice is already found among Jews in the time of Christ.- -to avoid overusing or misusing God’s name. Thus Matthew’s gospel says “kingdom of heaven” where the other gospels have “kingdom of God”.) Also, “GOOD” in “Good heavens” (cf “Good grief”, etc) is in place of “God” – and the whole is a substitute for “God in heaven”.

But why BETSY?!

The form has been found in print as early as 1892 (though it may have been spoken long before then). But unfortunately, no one has found clear evidence of its origins. There is the “Betsy Ross” theory, though if offers no explanation of why her name should be used in place of a divine or saint’s name** — it doesn’t even sound like one.

** there is Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist, but her name seems never to be used in this way, much less in the form of “Betsy”

Some have suggested Queen Elizabeth. Unfortunately, she was never referred to by this nickname. But more than that the expression seems to be completely AMERICAN, not British, and from all evidence postdates the queen by a few centuries!

Others have suggested the name comes from the nickname for a frontiersman’s rifle – “(Old) Betsy” , based on Davy Crockett use of “Betsy” for his favorite and “Old Betsy”, another rifle given to him. Crockett was fighting with Betsy when he died at the Alamo. (I personally wonder whether Crockett adapted this name from the popular “Brown Bess” musket, though that may not get us any closer to the expression at hand.)

Some dismiss this as unsubstantiated — http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-hea1.htm . But since we have no evidence for any OTHER option… maybe! It also might fit with the practice of swearing by someone or something near and dear to oneself.

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You also mention “Pete” as in “For Pete’s sake!” That’s much easier!

“Pete” is for Saint Peter (Jesus’ disciple, leader in the early church, considered by Catholics to be the first pope). “For Pete’s sake” (sometimes transformed to “For pity’s sake”), substitutes for “For God’s sake” or “For Christ’s sake”)

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Don’t know if this helps, but there is one other expression formed the same way — “Heavens to Murgatroyd”.(first recorded in a 1944 movie, then picked up for the cartoon character Snagglepuss)

I think this one is best explained asinspired by the Murgatroyd family in the Gilbert & Sullivan opera “Ruddigore” — a line of barons under a witch’s curse, several of whom are ghosts.

http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/heavens-to-murgatroyd.html

It probably came about during the reign of Elizabeth I of England.

It probably came about the same time golly gee willicurs did, and gee whiz.

Why it came I don’t know.

Mercy Days!!!

Of course people say that…

My Land!

It must be for people who don’t like to swear.

Good topic, just what I was looking for.