Beddingfeld History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The Norman Conquest of England in 1066 brought much change to the island nation, including many immigrants with new names. Among these immigrants were the ancestors of the Beddingfeld family, who lived in the county of Suffolk, at Bedingfield which dates back to at least the Domesday Book of 1086 where it was recorded as Bedingefelda. 1 The place name literally means "open land of the family or followers of a man called Beda," from the Old English personal name + "-inga" + "feld." 2 Edwin Bedingefeld was recorded in Suffolk in 1095.

Early Origins of the Beddingfeld family

The surname Beddingfeld was first found in Suffolk at Bedingfield (Bedingfeld) a parish, in the union and hundred of Hoxne. "The living [of Bedingfield] is a discharged rectory, valued in the king's books at £8, and in the gift of J. J. Bedingfield, Esq., whose family received their name from the parish." 3 Early records show Peter de Bedingfeld gave property to Snape Priory in the 12th century.

Walkelin de Bedigfeld was listed in the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1198, Adam de Beddingefled in the Curia Regis Rolls of 1200 and Roger de Bedyngfeld in the Subsidy Rolls for London in 1332. 4

The family settled here soon after the Conquest and claim descendancy from Ogenus de Pugis, also called Longueville, a Norman knight who fought at the Battle of Hastings at the side of Duke William. 5

Descended from him was Sir Thomas and his brother Sir Peter, ancestors of the Bedingfields, who were living in 1350 at Ditchingham Hall in Norfolk. "The Bedingfelds of Ditchingham, in this county, are a younger branch parted from the parent stem as early as the middle of the fourteenth century. " 6

Early History of the Beddingfeld family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Beddingfeld research. Another 83 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1479, 1509, 1523, 1553, 1554, 1583, 1586, 1593, 1595, 1613, 1632, 1636, 1648, 1651, 1654, 1660, 1661, 1680, 1686, 1687 and 1720 are included under the topic Early Beddingfeld History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Beddingfeld Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years the English language had no fixed system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations occurred commonly in Anglo Norman surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Beddingfeld were recorded, including Beddingfield, Bedingfield, Bedingfeld, Bedingfeil and many more.

Early Notables of the Beddingfeld family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Sir Edmund Bedingfield or Bedingfeld (1479-1553), made a Knight of the Bath in 1523; Sir Henry Bedingfield (1509-1583), Lord Chief Justice of England; and his son, Thomas Bedingfield (died 1613), English gentleman pensioner (bodyguard) to Elizabeth I of England; Anthony Bedingfield (died 1651), an English merchant and politician; Philip Bedingfield (died 1660), an English landowner and politician who sat in...
Another 67 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Beddingfeld Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Beddingfeld family

The unstable environment in England at this time caused numerous families to board ships and leave in search of opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad in places like Ireland, Australia, and particularly the New World. The voyage was extremely difficult, however, and only taken at great expense. The cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels caused many to arrive diseased and starving, not to mention destitute from the enormous cost. Still opportunity in the emerging nations of Canada and the United States was far greater than at home and many went on to make important contributions to the cultures of their adopted countries. An examination of many early immigration records reveals that people bearing the name Beddingfeld arrived in North America very early: Walter Beddingfield who landed in America in 1750.

The Beddingfeld 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: Aquila non captat muscas
Motto Translation: The eagle is no fly-catcher.

Citations +

Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
Shirley, Evelyn Philip, The Noble and Gentle Men of England; The Arms and Descents. Westminster: John Bower Nichols and Sons, 1866, Print.