Blowfield History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The history of the Blowfield family name begins after the Norman Conquest of 1066. 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 Blowfield family

The surname Blowfield 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 Blowfield family

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

Blowfield Spelling Variations

Anglo-Norman names are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. When the Normans became the ruling people of England in the 11th century, they introduced a new language into a society where the main languages of Old and later Middle English had no definite spelling rules. These languages were more often spoken than written, so they blended freely with one another. Contributing to this mixing of tongues was the fact that medieval scribes spelled words according to sound, ensuring that a person's name would appear differently in nearly every document in which it was recorded. The name has been spelled Bloomefield, Blundeville, Blomfield, Blumfield, Blundville and many more.

Early Notables of the Blowfield family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

Captain Isaias Blowfield was under the command of English ship Lily (1642), of 12 guns and 110 tons, purchased in 1642 when she was wrecked in September 1653 when she was driven ashore in a storm

Migration of the Blowfield family to Ireland

Some of the Blowfield 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.

Blowfield migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Blowfield Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

John Blowfield, aged 18, who arrived in South Australia in 1850 aboard the ship "Sultana" 7
Mr. James Blowfield, (b. 1815), aged 37, English shoe maker who was convicted in Chichester, West Sussex, England for 7 years for desertion from the army, transported aboard the "Fairlie" on 9th Mary 1852, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Island), he died in 1880 8

Contemporary Notables of the name Blowfield (post 1700) +

Philip Blowfield, English UKIP political candidate for Stony Stratford, Norfolk in 2014 and 2015
G. E. Blowfield, English Warrant Officer, recipient of the 1943 Birthday Honours
Vic Blowfield, English competitor at the 1948 International Cross Country Championships

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.
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) SULTANA 1850. Retrieved http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1850Sultana.htm
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 26th September 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/fairlie