Belen History, Family Crest & Coats of ArmsBelen is a name of ancient Norman origin. It arrived in England with the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Belen family lived in Essex, where they held a family seat from the mid-13th century on. The name is taken from that of the village of Belencombre in the Dieppe region of Normandy where the family lived prior to Norman Conquest of England. It took its present form after being transferred to England at the time of the Conquest. Early Origins of the Belen familyThe surname Belen was first found in Essex, where they held a family seat after 1066. The name is associated with the village of Belencombre in the Dieppe region of Normandy and took its present form after being transferred to England with the conquest. Early History of the Belen familyThis 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 VariationsEndless 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 familyOutstanding amongst the family at this time was
Migration of the Belen familyTo 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.
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