Balwyn History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

Balwyn is a name that first reached England following the Norman Conquest of 1066. It comes from the Germanic elements bald, which means bold, and wine, which means friend or protector.

Baldwin (d. 1098) was abbot and physician, "a monk of St. Denys, and was made prior of the monastery of Liberau, a cell of St. Denys, in Alsace. When Edward the Confessor refounded the monastery of Deerhurst and gave it to St. Denys, Baldwin was appointed prior of this new possession of his house. " 1

"Baldwin of Moeles (d. 1100?) was the second son of Gilbert, count of Eu, who was a grandson of Richard the Fearless, and one of the guardians of the youth of William the Conqueror. " 1

Baldwin (d. 1191), Archbishop of Canterbury, was born at Exeter of poor parents. "He received an excellent education, both in secular and religious learning, and bore a high character. " 1 "Archbishop Baldwin, who died at Tyre in 1191, while engaged on a crusade." 2

Baldwin of Clare (fl. 1141) was the "youngest son of Gilbert Fitz-Richard, of the elder branch of the line of Gilbert, count of Eu, grandson of Richard the Fearless. Baldwin of Redvers (d. 1155) was the eldest son of Richard, earl of Devon, the son of Baldwin of Moeles. " 1

Baldwin, the Count of Flanders (1172-1205), led the Fourth Crusade and became the first Latin Emperor of Constantinople (1204). Baldwin of Exeter or Baldwin of Forde (c.1125-1190) was Bishop of Worcester in 1180 and Archbishop of Canterbury between 1185 and 1190.

Early Origins of the Balwyn family

The surname Balwyn was first found in Shropshire, where this ancient family "was early seated at Diddlebury, (or Delbury,) in Coverdale, which appears to have come from the heiress of Wigley. Robert Baldwin of Diddlebury died anno 1398, and was ancestor of the family." 3

"The Sieur de Baudewin, whose name occurs of the Roll [of Battle Abbey] became after the battle of Hastings Catellan of Montgomery. There scarcely exists a doubt that this Norman Chief was patriarch of the ancient family of Bawdewin, or Baldwyn. " 4

"The parish [of Witsbury in Wiltshire] formed part of the possessions of Breamore Priory, founded by Baldwin de Redveriis in the reign of Henry I. It is situated on the highest land between Hants and Wilts, commanding an extensive view of the New Forest, and southward to the sea over a wide tract of fertile country." 5

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 list: Stephen filius Baldewyn in Cambridgeshire; Thomas Baldwyn in Oxfordshire; Robert Baldewyne in Cambridgeshire. 6 Later, the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 list Johannes Bawdwyn.

"Baldwin the Sheriff, or Baldwin de Redvers (otherwise De Sap, or De Brioniis), was the most important feudal lord in Devon. No fewer than 181 manors fell to his share in this county alone. Ninety-two fees were held of this barony. Here in the centre of his domains, in the very heart of Devon, commanding the passes to the north and west of Dartmoor, and dominating the district far away to the Severn Sea, he reared his castle. None of his masonry remains ; but the site is that which he chose, the mound is that which he scarped and isolated from the hillside, of which it formed a rocky spur ; and the surroundings have changed little from the day when the square Norman keep first frowned upon the brawling waters of the rapid Ockrent [River] in the valley below. " 2

Early History of the Balwyn family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Balwyn research. Another 87 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1295, 1307, 1500, 1532, 1545, 1547, 1563, 1585, 1593, 1618, 1620, 1632, 1640, 1642, 1644, 1659, 1683, 1691, 1696 and 1905 are included under the topic Early Balwyn History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Balwyn Spelling Variations

Before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Sound was what guided spelling in the Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Balwyn family name include Baldwin, Baldwine, Baldwyn, Baldwyne, Baldwynn and others.

Early Notables of the Balwyn family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was John Baldwin (d. 1545), Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, a member of the Inner Temple.William Baldwin or Bawden (1563-1632), was a Jesuit and native of Cornwall. Another William Baldwin (fl...
Another 38 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Balwyn Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Balwyn family to Ireland

Some of the Balwyn family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 185 words (13 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Balwyn family

To escape the political and religious chaos of this era, thousands of English families began to migrate to the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. The passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe; however, those who made the voyage safely were encountered opportunities that were not available to them in their homeland. Many of the families that reached the New World at this time went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations of the United States and Canada. Research into various historical records has revealed some of first members of the Balwyn family to immigrate North America: George Baldwin who settled in Boston Massachusetts in 1620; Edward who settled in Virginia in 1650; and Richard in Boston in 1638. In Newfoundland, Mary and Richard were planters in 1724 in Placienta.

The Balwyn Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Je n'oublierai pas
Motto Translation: I will never forget.

Citations +

Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
Worth, R.N., A History of Devonshire London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, E.G., 1895. Digital
Shirley, Evelyn Philip, The Noble and Gentle Men of England; The Arms and Descents. Westminster: John Bower Nichols and Sons, 1866, Print.
Burke, John Bernard, The Roll of Battle Abbey. London: Edward Churton, 26, Holles Street, 1848, Print.
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)