Belen History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

• Origins Available:
• England
• Spain

Early Origins of the Belen family

Early History of the Belen family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Belen research. Another 216 words (15 lines of text) covering the years 1235, 1273, 1500, 1654, 1677 and 1794 are included under the topic Early Belen History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Belen Spelling Variations

Endless spelling variations are a prevailing characteristic of Norman surnames. Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules, and the introduction of Norman French added an unfamiliar ingredient to the English linguistic stew. French and Latin, the languages of the court, also influenced spellings. Finally, Medieval scribes generally spelled words according to how they sounded, so one person was often referred to by different spellings in different documents. The name has been spelled Bellchamber, Belchamber, Bellchambers, Belchambers, Belencombre, Belencumbre, Bellchambe and many more.

Early Notables of the Belen family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

• William Belencumbre, a prominent 13th century landholder in Essex

Migration of the Belen family

To escape the political and religious persecution within England at the time, many English families left for the various British colonies abroad. The voyage was extremely difficult, though, and the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving. But for those who made it, the trip was most often worth it. Many of the families who arrived went on to make valuable contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families reveals a number of immigrants bearing the name Belen or a variant listed above: W. Bellchambers who arrived in Ontario in 1877.