It is possible that the Seigneurs de Beaujeu were related in some way to the comtes de Lyon et de Forez. Samuel Guichenon, in his Histoire de la Souverainté de Dombes written in 1662, cites earlier secondary sources which suggest that they descend from "Umfred, fils d'un comte de Lyon et de Forest, son frère, inhumés en l'église de Saint-Irénée de Lyon". This is based on an epitaph (disappeared by the date of Guichenon's work) which records the death in "the year 99" of "Artaudus comes Lugdunensis et comes Forensis et dominus Bellijoci et Umfredus frater eius et mater eorum"[1500]. Guichenon cites another version of the epitaph, from "une ancienne généalogie manuscrite" which he found in the archives of the "chapitre de Saint-Jean de Lyon"[1501], which reads "Artaudus comes Lugdunensis ac Forensis, dominus Bellijoci, anno 999" and "Artaldus filius et mater eius". The editor of the 1874 edition of Guichenon records yet another version, from "la chronique trouvée à Belleville" which reads "…Artaldus comes Lugd. et Forensis dns Stephanus comes frater eius et Amphredus Bellijoci dns et pater et frater eorum, obiit dictus Artaldus 993". Guichenon's conclusion is that none of these versions is likely to be genuine, based on his supposition that pre-1000 epitaphs are infrequent and that the authentic ones which do survive record only names and titles not the territories ruled. He adds that the chronology is such that, if the Beaujeu family did descend from the comtes de Lyon, "Berardus" cited below could have been the brother of Gerard Comte de Lyon, and son of Comte Artaud [I] who lived in 900[1502]. Auguste Bernard states that the seigneurs de Beaujeu descended from "Bernard ou Béraud ou Gérard", who he says was the youngest of the three sons of Guillaume [I] Comte de Lyon (see BURGUNDY KINGDOM NOBILITY) to whom his father granted "la sirerie de Beaujolais", but he cites no primary source on which he bases his statement[1503]. From an onomastic point of view, neither of the names typical of the family of the Comtes de Lyon (Artaud and Gérard) is found in the family of the Seigneurs de Beaujeu, although this is not of course conclusive proof that the relationship did not exist.
The exact relationship between the above family sub-group and Berard husband of Wandelmode is not known, but the common use of the names Guichard, Berard and Lambert suggests that the two families were closely related. It is possible that they were related through Berard's mother.
BERARD [II] (-[9 Dec 961/966]). "Berardus" donated property "in villa Morgono, comitato Matisconense" to Cluny dated Oct 957, consented to by "Arlulfo" who has not been identified[2020]. The church of Pierre Aigue was founded on land "in pago L[ugdu]nensi" owned by "Berardum" by undated charter, dated to the 10th century, signed by "Berardi, Wandelmodis, Humberti…"[2021]. [A charter dated 22 Aug, dated to [1060/1108], records donations in "pago Lugdunensi" to the church of Notre-Dame de Beaujeu by "predicti fundatores", including property "in villa Charenthahie" donated by "duo fratres…Berardus et Josmarus"[2022]. It is not known whether this charter relates to Bérard [II] and his otherwise unrecorded brother.] mWANDELMODE, daughter of --- (-after [987/96]). "Vuandalmodis" is named as wife of Bérard in his donation to Cluny dated Oct 957[2023]. Her origin is not known. Chaume proposes that she was Wandelmode de Salins, daughter of Humbert de Salins & his wife Wandalmode ---, for onomastic reasons because of her own name as well as the names of her son Humbert and grandson Letaud[2024]. The church of Pierre Aigue was founded on land "in pago L[ugdu]nensi" owned by "Berardum" by undated charter, dated to the 10th century, signed by "Berardi, Wandelmodis, Humberti…"[2025]. "Vuandalmodis et filius meus Vuichardus" donated property "in pago Augustodunense…in villa Trescurtis…[et] in villa Vualiaco" to Cluny for the soul of "Letaudi filii mei" by charter dated to [987/96], subscribed by "Vuigonis, Lamberti, Girardi, Bernardi, Josberti, Aimini, Annoni, Humberti, Ermenardi, Roberti, Ermenrici"[2026]. Bérard & his wife had [nine] children