Bellasyze History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Bellasyze is a name of ancient Norman origin. It arrived in England with the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Bellasyze family lived in Durham, where they were established by the early Middle Ages.

Early Origins of the Bellasyze family

The surname Bellasyze 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 Bellasyze family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bellasyze 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 Bellasyze History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bellasyze Spelling Variations

Endless 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 Bellsize, Belsize, Belasyse, Bellasise, Belasize, Bellasize, Belasise, Belasis and many more.

Early Notables of the Bellasyze 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 Bellasyze Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Bellasyze family

To 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 Bellasyze or a variant listed above: Ralph Belasis who landed in North America in 1760.

The Bellasyze 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.