Contents [hide]

Bellot History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Motto Citations

Bellot History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
France
Germany
Ireland

Bellot is a name that was carried to England in the great wave of migration from Normandy following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Bellot family 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 Bellot family

The surname Bellot 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 Bellot family

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

Bellot 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 Bellot were recorded, including 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 Bellot 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

Bellot Ranking

In France, the name Bellot is the 1,175^th most popular surname with an estimated 4,710 people with that name. 5

Migration of the Bellot family to Ireland

Some of the Bellot 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.

Bellot migration to the United States +

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 Bellot arrived in North America very early:

Bellot Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Jean Bellot, who settled in Charles Town [Charleston], South Carolina in 1763
Antonio and Clara Bellot and their son settled in New Orleans in 1779

Bellot Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Arnaud Bellot, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1804
A Bellot, who landed in New Orleans, La in 1839 6
Camilo Bellot, who arrived in Puerto Rico in 1852 6

Contemporary Notables of the name Bellot (post 1700) +

Hugh Hale Leigh Bellot FRHS (1890-1969), English historian, Professor of American History and Vice-Chancellor of the University of London from 1951 to 1953
Alfred Henry Bellot (b. 1882), American historian, best known for his authoritative book History of the Rockaways from the Year 1685 to 1917, published in 1918
Joseph René Bellot (1826-1853), French Arctic explorer; he disappeared in an opening between the broken masses of ice in the Wellington Channel (August 1853)
Jean-Michel Bellot (b. 1953), French two-time Olympic pole vaulter
Raymond Bellot (b. 1929), French footballer
Pierre François Bellot (1776-1836), Swiss jurist and politician
Paul Bellot (1876-1944), French monk and architect

The Bellot 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
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)