Bloomefield History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The vast movement of people that followed the Norman Conquest of England of 1066 brought the Bloomefield family name to the British Isles. They lived in Norfolk, where the family has a rich history dating back many years. Their name, however, derives from their previous locality of residence, Blundeville, near Pont l'Eveque, Normandy. 1

Early Origins of the Bloomefield family

The surname Bloomefield was first found in Cheshire at Beeston, a township, in the parish of Bunbury, union of Nantwich, First division of the hundred of Eddisbury. "This place takes its name from a castle founded by Ranulph de Blundeville, about 1220, and which was made a royal garrison in the war between Henry III. and the confederate barons." 2 He was the son and heir of Hugh 'de Kivelioc,' Earl (palatine) of Chester, whom he succeeded in 1180. "His surname, like his father's, was derived from his birthplace, 'Blundevill' being identified by Dugdale with Oswestry. " 3

Thomas de Blundeville or Blunville (d. 1236), was Bishop of Norwich. He "was the son of Robert de Blunville of Newton; Flotman, Norfolk, and younger brother of William de Blunville, constable of Corfe Castle during the reign of King John." 3

However, most sources believe the family was originally from Norfolk as by example, "History or Norfolk" had two early entries for the family using early spellings: John de Blomevile, 1249; and William de Blundevile, 1283 while the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 had only one entry: William de Blumvile, Norfolk 1273. 4

Another source notes: "Bloomfield, a village in Worcestershire, and probably other localities. Norfolk has long been the greatest habitat of the name. " 5

"Bailiffs of Ipswich in the reigns of Edward IV., Henry VII., and Charles II., bore the name of Blomfield. " 6

Early History of the Bloomefield family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bloomefield research. Another 144 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1203, 1524, 1525, 1574, 1576, 1638, 1642, 1653, 1768, 1825 and 1846 are included under the topic Early Bloomefield History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bloomefield 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 Bloomefield, Blundeville, Blomfield, Blumfield, Blundville and many more.

Early Notables of the Bloomefield family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Miles Blomefield (1525-1574?), alchemist, who recorded some particulars of his birth and parentage in a quaint note written by himself in a volume which is preserved in the library of St. John's College, Cambridge, and which contains a unique copy of 'the boke called the Informacyon for pylgrymes vnto the holy lande,' printed by Wynkyn de Worde in 1524: 'I...
Another 68 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Bloomefield Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Bloomefield family to Ireland

Some of the Bloomefield family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 51 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Bloomefield 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 Bloomefield or a variant listed above: James Bloomfield who settled in Boston, Massachusetts in 1620; Sarah Bloomfield settled in New England in 1634; Noah Bloomfield settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1796.

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.
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.