Contents [hide]

Bello History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Motto Citations

Bello History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Germany
Italy
Spain
Ireland

The vast movement of people that followed the Norman Conquest of England of 1066 brought the Bello family name to the British Isles. They lived in Cheshire where they were first established at Moreton on the Wirral Peninsula. Originally, the name was a variation of the Old French belleau or bella aqua, which means good water or clear water and likely is derived from the name of any number of locations so named in Normandy. 1

Early Origins of the Bello family

The surname Bello was first found in Cheshire where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor of Moreton in the Wirral Peninsula. The name of the Norman noble who was granted lands at Moreton was interchangeably Bellet or Bellot of Callouville in Normandy, but emerged in the 12th century as Bellow or Bellows. The family held a family seat at Moreton at the time of the Norman Conquest of England by Duke William of Normandy in 1066 A.D. Moreton is now a seaside resort. East Rudham, Norfolk was "anciently the property of the family of Belet." 2

"The Bellets were early seated in Norfolk, and became subsequently located in Cheshire by the marriage of John Bellet, Esq., temp. Henry VI., with Katherine, sister and heir of Ralph Moreton, of Great Moreton, in the Palatinate." 3

Michael Belet (fl. 1182), was an English judge, Sheriff of Worcestershire 1176-1181 and again in 1184, of Wiltshire 1180-1182, of Leicestershire and Warwickshire in conjunction with Ralph Glanvill 1185-1187, and alone 1189-1200. 4

Michael Belet (fl. 1238), another English judge, was the second son of the aforementioned Michael Belet; he is commonly styled Magister Michael Belet on account of his profession of civilian and canonist. 4

Wroxton in Oxfordshire was also and ancient family seat. "This place was distinguished for an extensive monastery, founded for a prior and brethren of the Augustine order, and dedicated to the Blessed Virgin, about the year 1230, by Michael Belet, who endowed it with the lordships of Wroxton and Balscot." 2

Early History of the Bello family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bello research. Another 118 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1542, 1596, 1604, 1612 and 1663 are included under the topic Early Bello History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bello Spelling Variations

A multitude of spelling variations characterize Norman surnames. Many variations occurred because Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules. The introduction of Norman French to England also had a pronounced effect, as did the court languages of Latin and French. Therefore, one person was often referred to by several different spellings in a single lifetime. The various spellings include Bellowe, Bellow, Bellows, Bellot, Bellet, Bellett, Bellowes, Beloe, Belloe, Bellough, Belloes, Beloes, Belloughs, Ballot, Ballott, Ballow, Ballowe, Ballows, Ballowes and many more.

Early Notables of the Bello family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

Sir William Bellows of Moreton. Stephen Bellott, a Huguenot, sued his father-in-law Christopher Mountjoy in what became known in British law as Bellott v. Mountjoy which was heard at the Court of Requ...
Hugh Bellot (1542-1596), was Bishop of Chester, the second son of Thomas Bellot, Esq., of Great Moreton, Cheshire. 4

Bello Ranking

In the United States, the name Bello is the 3,001^st most popular surname with an estimated 9,948 people with that name. 5 However, in France, the name Bello is ranked the 5,621^st most popular surname with an estimated 1,000 - 1,500 people with that name. 6

Migration of the Bello family to Ireland

Some of the Bello 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.

Bello migration to the United States +

Many English families left England, to avoid the chaos of their homeland and migrated to the many British colonies abroad. Although the conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and some travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute, once in the colonies, many of the families prospered and made valuable contributions to the cultures of what would become the United States and Canada. Research into the origins of individual families in North America has revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Bello or a variant listed above:

Bello Settlers in United States in the 16th Century

Nuno Bello, who sailed to America in 1535
Juan Bello, who sailed to Peru in 1584

Bello Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Bias Bello, aged 45, who landed in New Orleans, La in 1831 7
Nuno Bello, who landed in America in 1835 7
M De Bello, aged 31, who arrived in New Orleans, La in 1836 7
Angel Bello de Castro to Puerto Rico in 1860
Domingo Bello, who arrived in Puerto Rico in 1860 7
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Bello Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Adamo Bello, who settled in America from Campobasso, Italy, in 1907
Agostino Bello, aged 24, who landed in America from Cellino, Lecce, in 1909
Amelia Bello, aged 11, who landed in America from Ortanova, Italy, in 1909
Agostino Bello, aged 29, who immigrated to America from Sedigliano, Italy, in 1910
Alessandro Bello, aged 28, who landed in America from Castigliole, Italy, in 1910
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Bello (post 1700) +

Maria Bello (b. 1967), American actress
Doris M Bello, American educator
Umberto J. Bello, American politician, Candidate for Mayor of Stamford, Connecticut, 1957 (Independent), 1959 (Republican primary), 1959 (Independent)
Alvin J. Bello, American Republican politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania 1st District, 1964
Noël del Bello (1938-2024), French racing driver
Andrés Bello, Venezuelan intellectual leader, a humanist, poet, philosopher, educator and philologist
Luis Belló Martínez (1929-2021), known as Belló II, a Spanish football player and manager
Fernando Lima Bello (1931-2021), Portugal sailor, member of the International Olympic Committee since 1989
Mahmud Kanti Bello (1945-2017), Nigerian senator
Luis Bello y Trompeta, Spanish journalist
... (Another 3 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

The Bello 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: Vita et pectore puro
Motto Translation: With pure life and heart.

Citations +

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)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Burke, John Bernard, The Roll of Battle Abbey. London: Edward Churton, 26, Holles Street, 1848, Print.
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)