Bensely History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Bensely is a name whose history on English soil dates back to the wave of migration that followed the Norman Conquest of England of 1066. The Bensely family lived in Norfolk and Suffolk. The name is derived from an Old Norse phrase which means an area where beans were grown.

Early Origins of the Bensely family

The surname Bensely was first found in Norfolk and Suffolk, where they had been granted lands by King William after the Norman Conquest in 1066. They are descended from Benzelius, Archbishop of Upsal in the Viking kingdom of Sweden. Benzelinus accompanied William Conqueror into England. There are now 28 different forms of spelling of this name. 1

Early History of the Bensely family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bensely research. Another 36 words (3 lines of text) covering the year 1548 is included under the topic Early Bensely History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bensely 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 Bensley, Bensely, Benseley, Benesle, Bensle, Benslie, Benslee, Benisly, Benslow, Beanslie, Binslie and many more.

Early Notables of the Bensely family

Another 37 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Bensely Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Bensely family

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 Bensely or a variant listed above: Clement Bensley who settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1813; John Bensle settled in Philadelphia in 1751.

Citations +

Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.