Bellasize History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Bellasize is a name that was carried to England in the great wave of migration from Normandy following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Bellasize family lived in Durham, where they were established by the early Middle Ages.

Early Origins of the Bellasize family

The surname Bellasize was first found in Durham where they held a family seat. Belasius, a Norman Lord, attended William Duke of Normandy at Hastings in 1066 when King Harold was defeated.

Belasius became General of William's forces against the remnant of the Saxon Army commanded by the Princes Edwin and Morcar in the famous siege of the Isle of Ely. Morton-Grange in Durham was home to a branch of the family.

"This place formerly belonged to the family of Belasyse, to whom Cardinal Wolsey, in 1525, granted a lease of the manor and grange, and of whom was Sir William Belasyse, Knt., of Morton, High Sheriff of the county under the see of Durham from 1628 until his death in 1641." 1

In later years. some of the family held a family seat at Worlaby in Lincolnshire. "This place, which is included in the duchy of Lancaster, was the seat of the Belasis family, one of whom, John, second son of the first Viscount Fauconberg, was lord of the treasury under James II., and was in 1644 created a Baron, of Worlaby, or Worletby; a title that became extinct on the death of his grandson without issue." 1

Early History of the Bellasize family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bellasize research. Another 116 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1577, 1614, 1627, 1648, 1653, 1661, 1673, 1678, 1689, 1691, 1692, 1700, 1701 and 1717 are included under the topic Early Bellasize History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bellasize Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, Norman French and other languages became incorporated into English throughout the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Bellasize include Bellsize, Belsize, Belasyse, Bellasise, Belasize, Bellasize, Belasise, Belasis and many more.

Early Notables of the Bellasize family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Sir Charles Belasyse; Thomas Belasyse, 1st Baron & Viscount Fauconberg, 2nd Baronet (1577-1653), an English politician; John Belasyse, 1st Baron Belasyse PC (1614-1689), an English nobleman, soldier and Member of Parliament, Lord-Lieutenant of the East Riding of Yorkshire (1661-1673), Governor of Tangier...
Another 49 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Bellasize Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Bellasize family

In England at this time, the uncertainty of the political and religious environment of the time caused many families to board ships for distant British colonies in the hopes of finding land and opportunity, and escaping persecution. The voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, though, and many arrived in North America sick, starved, and destitute. Those who did make it, however, were greeted with greater opportunities and freedoms that they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make important contributions to the young nations in which they settled. Early immigration records have shown some of the first Bellasizes to arrive on North American shores: Ralph Belasis who landed in North America in 1760.

The Bellasize 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: Bonne et belle assez
Motto Translation: Good and handsome enough (in allusion to the fleur-de-lis on their shield)

Citations +

Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.