Show ContentsBonehill History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Bonehill family

The surname Bonehill was first found in Midlothian, where they held a family seat from ancient times.

Early History of the Bonehill family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bonehill research. Another 77 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1600, 1653 and 1699 are included under the topic Early Bonehill History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bonehill Spelling Variations

Spelling variations are extremely common among Scottish names dating from this era because the arts of spelling and translation were not yet standardized. Spelling was done by sound, and translation from Gaelic to English was generally quite careless. In different records, Bonehill has been spelled Bonally, Bonelly, Bonallo, Bonalo, Bonaly, Bonnella, Bonela, Bonello and many more.

Early Notables of the Bonehill family

Notable amongst the family at this time was David Bonallo, an unusual spelling but not an exception in Scottish surnames, e.g. Dalgarno and Dalgarto.James Bonnell (1653-1699), was Accountant-General of Ireland, "a man eminent for his saintly life, was...
Another 38 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Bonehill Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Bonehill family

Those who made the voyage were greeted with ample opportunity to acquire land and a political climate far away from the oppressive monarchy of the old country. They settled along the east coast of what would become Canada and the United States. In the American War of Independence, those who remained loyal to England traveled north to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. In this century, many Scots living in North America have begun to recover their rich heritage through festivals, highland games, and Clan societies. An examination of passenger and immigration lists has shown early immigrants bearing the name Bonehill: Alexander Bonaley who settled in Virginia in 1624.


Contemporary Notables of the name Bonehill (post 1700) +

  • Bessie Bonehill (1855-1902), English vaudeville singer, comic entertainer and male impersonator, "one of the most famous and wealthy entertainers of her day"
  • Richard Bonehill (1948-2015), British actor and stuntman with an expertise in swordsmanship, known for his work on Flash Gordon, Highlander, Rob Roy (1995), Top Secret! (1984) and Frenchman's Creek (1998)


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