Benfield Family Crest, Coat of Arms and Name History

Benfield Origin:

England

Origins of Benfield:

According to early recordings of the spelling of the surname, the various forms of Benfield is listed in different ways such as Benfield, Benfold, Benford, Benfold, Benford, Bendfield, Bomfield, Bonfield, and Bonnfield. It is an English surname, but more Norman-French in origin. It is a conquest name, affiliated with the Invasion of England in the year 1066. The surname Benield derives from a Normandy village called Bonneville, meaning ‘nice place’. In England, the surname was first listed in the year 1131 when Richard de Bon Davilla was as a landowner in province of Durham, in the north-east of England. Later, in the year 1197, Robert de Bonneville is listed in the pipe rolls of Yorkshire, where the name was prominent for many centuries. The variation of the modern spelling structure took place over many centuries effected by the elements of poor spelling and various accents. Examples from early church records in the city of London are Richard Bonfelt at St. James Garlickhythe, on March 1537, Edward Bonnfild on September 1589, when he married Alice Monnislie at the church of St Katherines by the Tower (of London). Edwarde Benforde, listed at the church of St Mary Somerset, on March 1591, and Thomas Bonfield married Ann Wood at St James Church, Clerkenwell on August 1602.

Variations:

More common variations are: Benefield, Benifield, Benafield Beinfield, Behnfield, Beenfield, Bennfield, Beanfield, Benufield, Bennyfield.

England:

The surname Benfield was first found in Hertfordshire, where Goduin de Benefelle was listed as land-owner in the Domesday Book. Later, in the Norman Invasion of 1066, King William donated the estates of England to the barons that had helped him in the War of Hastings. These barons followed the Norman practice of accepting the name of their lands owners. Thus, it is imaginable that one section of the Benfield family descended from Richard, who donated lands in the village of Benfield, Northamptonshire.

United States of America:

Individuals with the surname Benfield settled in the United States in three different centuries respectively in the 17th, 18th and 19th. Some of the people with the name Benfield who settled in the United States in the 17th century included Richard Benfield, who landed in Maryland in the year 1680.

Individuals with the name Benfield who settled in the United States in the 19th century included Nathaniel Benfield, who arrived in New York in 1843 during the 19th Century.

New-Zealand:

People with the name Benfield who settled in Canada in the 19th century included William T.Benfield at the age of 23, Esther Benfield at the age of 23 and William A. Benfield at the age of 2, all of these people arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship “Waikato” in the same year 1874.

Here is the population distribution of the last name Benfield: United States 4.888; England 1,662; Australia 401; Canada 76; South Africa 493; Wales 79; Scotland 53; Argentina 60; New Zealand 47; Guyana 44.

Notable People:

Andrea Benfield (born 1978), is an English writer, reporter and announcer. She currently presents ITV News: Wales at Six.

Christopher Benfield Carter (1844–1906), was a Canadian politician. He played a major role in the field of politics. He was born in Montreal, the son of Christopher Carter and Amelia Jane Coward. He studied at the Montreal High School, the popular Academy of Sorel, and McGill University.

Derek Benfield (1926–2009), was a British scriptwriter, actor, and artist. He was born in Bradford, West Riding of Yorkshire, and got an education at Bingley Grammar School. He was the writer of the stage comedy Running Riot and the second actor to play Patricia Routledge’s character’s husband in Hetty Wainthropp Investigates (1996–98).

Fred Benfield (1937–2007), was an Australian rower who performed in the 1956 Summer Olympics. He was born Frederick Angus Benfield.

John Benfield was a British actor and artist, who has starred in 75 TV episodes or movies beginning in the year 1981.

Robert Benfield (died 1649), was a seventeenth-century artist and an ancient member of the King’s Men.

Tommy Benfield (died 1918), was a famous English football player.

Warren Benfield (1913–2001), was a classical double bass player.

Blazons & Genealogy Notes

Notes: (Middlesex). Blazon: Azure on a chevron between three pears or, three roses gules.