Bascerfield History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

Bascerfield is one of the thousands of new names that the Norman Conquest brought to England in 1066. The Bascerfield family lived in Herefordshire, although the name is derived from the area of the family's residence sometime prior to the 1066 invasion. The family was formerly from Boscherville in Eure, Normandy. 1

The name of this town comes from the Old Northern French elements bochet, which means copse or thicket, and ville, which means town.

However, another source has a slightly different place of origin, that of: "Nicholas de Basquevile, one of the six sons of Baudry-le Teuton, who derived his name from Basceville or Basqueville, in the Fays de Caux." 2

Early Origins of the Bascerfield family

The surname Bascerfield was first found in Herefordshire, where "the family of Baskerville is one of the most ancient and honourable in England, and from the time of it's Norman patriarch, has continued to hold the highest position amongst the great landed proprietors. It's earliest residence was the castle of Erdisley." 3

"Bacquevile or Baskerville is not written in Domesday; but Mr. A. S. Ellis suggests that the surname of Ralph, a sub-tenant of Roger de Laci, at Icombe, in Salemanesberie hundred, and Winrush, Gloucestershire, was probably De Baskerville. In 1109, Robert de Baskerville, on his return from the Holy Land, granted lands to Gloucester Abbey. Either he, or another of the same name, held five knight's fees in 1165 of Hugh de Laci in Herefordshire; and Radulph de Baskerville one fee under Adam de Port in the same county." 2

Of this line one of the earliest records of the name was Sir Richard Baskerville of Erdisley who represented the county of Hereford in parliament in 1295. His wife was daughter of Rees ap Griffith, Prince of South Wales. 3

Roger de Bascheruilla was listed in Gloucestershire in 1127. 4 Shropshire had the following early records: Roger de Bascrevill (reign of Henry III); and Nesta de Baskervill. The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 listed Hugh de Baskerville in Shropshire. 4

Some of the family have been well established at Winterbourne-Basset since early times. "Some property here formerly possessed by the Baskervilles has descended to Lord Holland. The church is a small ancient edifice with a neat tower, containing portions in the early and later English styles; it has a handsomely carved font, and in one of the aisles is a singularly elegant window: the chief monuments are of the family of Baskerville, who long resided here." 5

Baskerville Hall, formally Clyro Court and the legend of Squire Richard Cabell in Buckfastleigh, Devon is generally thought to have been the inspiration for Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's The Hound of the Baskervilles.

Early History of the Bascerfield family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bascerfield research. Another 126 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1295, 1314, 1315, 1572, 1574, 1592, 1597, 1615, 1630, 1640, 1641, 1668, 1720, 1922 and 1936 are included under the topic Early Bascerfield History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bascerfield Spelling Variations

Multitudes of spelling variations are a hallmark of Anglo Norman names. Most of these names evolved in the 11th and 12th century, in the time after the Normans introduced their own Norman French language into a country where Old and Middle English had no spelling rules and the languages of the court were French and Latin. To make matters worse, medieval scribes spelled words according to sound, so names frequently appeared differently in the various documents in which they were recorded. The name was spelled Baskerville, Baskervile, Baskervill, Baskerfield, Baskervyle, Basquill and many more.

Early Notables of the Bascerfield family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Sir Richard Baskerville, Member of Parliament for Hereford in 1295; Sir John Baskerville of Combe who served in the retinue of Henry V. at the battle of Agincourt; Richard de Baskervill, High Sheriff of Herefordshire (1314-1315); Thomas Baskerville (died 1572), MP for Worcestershire; Sir Thomas Baskerville (died 1597), an English general and Member of Parliament for Carmarthen borough in 1592; Francis Baskerville (born...
Another 70 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Bascerfield Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Bascerfield family to Ireland

Some of the Bascerfield family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Bascerfield family

Because of this political and religious unrest within English society, many people decided to immigrate to the colonies. Families left for Ireland, North America, and Australia in enormous numbers, traveling at high cost in extremely inhospitable conditions. The New World in particular was a desirable destination, but the long voyage caused many to arrive sick and starving. Those who made it, though, were welcomed by opportunities far greater than they had known at home in England. Many of these families went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Bascerfield or a variant listed above: Mary and Robert Baskerville who settled in Virginia in 1635; Richard Baskerville who settled in New England in 1634. A Baskerfield settled in Heatherton in the St. Georges district of Newfoundland..

The Bascerfield 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: Spero ut fidelis
Motto Translation: I hope as being faithful.

Citations +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Cleveland, Dutchess of The Battle Abbey Roll with some Account of the Norman Lineages. London: John Murray, Abermarle Street, 1889. Print. Volume 1 of 3
Burke, John Bernard, The Roll of Battle Abbey. London: Edward Churton, 26, Holles Street, 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)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.