Bonvill History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland
Ireland
England

The Bonvill family name comes from a place name that was first used among the Viking settlers who arrived in the shores of Scotland in the Middle Ages. The Bonvill name comes from someone having lived in Normandy, at the Castle of Bonneville or Bondeville. Some of the family remained in Normandy as seen by the record of William de Bonville who was listed there in 1124. 1 "The Itineraire de la Normandie records three places so called, two near Rouen and the third near Yvetot." 2

Early Origins of the Bonvill family

The surname Bonvill was first found in Devon, but early records also revealed that Bonvilston in the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales which may have been an ancient family seat as the village is named after Simon de Bonville, a Norman nobleman who lived there in the 12th century. "In 1165 the son of Robert de Bonavilla held lands in York. The Barons Bonville were of this house." 1

"The descendant of the Norman chief was summoned to Parliament, 28 Henry VI., as Baron Bonville of Chuton. He subsequently espoused the interests of the House of York, and was one of those to whom the custody of Henry VI. was committed after the Battle of Northampton." 3

Later Sir Nicholas de Bonville of Shute's son Sir William Bonville (c. 1332-1408) held estates at Newenham Abbey, Devon and rests there. His son was Sir John Bonville (c. 1371-1396) and his son was William Bonville, 1st Baron Bonville (c. 1392-1461), KG, of Shute, Devon, the English nobleman, soldier, and administrator.

"In the reign of Edward IV. the manor of Cransworth [in the parish of St. Wen, Cornwall] belonged to the family of Bonville." 4

In 1400 they were granted a charter of lands by King Robert 3rd of Scotland at Balhelvy Bonvile.

One branch of the family was found in Scotland in early times. "Adam de Bonuill was present at perambulation of the bounds of Kynblathmund, 1219. John de Boneville had a charter of the lands of Collistoun and two roumes of Arndendrachtis in the lordship of Buchan, 1321 and John de Bonevyle is mentioned in 1326 as owner of the land of Blairtoun in the thanedom of Balhelvie, Aberdeenshire. " 2

Early History of the Bonvill family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bonvill research. Another 145 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1326, 1340, 1341, 1376, 1392, 1400, 1449, 1461, 1475, 1621 and 1676 are included under the topic Early Bonvill History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bonvill Spelling Variations

Translation and spelling were non-standardized practices in the Middle Ages, so scribes had only their ears to rely on. This was a practice of extremely limited efficiency, and spelling variations in names, even within a single document, were the result. Over the years, Bonvill has appeared Bonville, Bonvile, Bonvill, Bonfield, Boneville, Bonfilly and many more.

Early Notables of the Bonvill family

Notable among the family at this time was

John Bonnville, a Scottish merchant. William Bonville (1392-1461) was made 1st Baron Bonville in the Peerage of England on September 23 1449
Anthony Bonville (1621-1676), otherwise called Terrill, was a Jesuit father, son of Humphrey Bonville of Canford, Dorsetshire. 5

Migration of the Bonvill family to Ireland

Some of the Bonvill family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 41 words (3 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 Bonvill family

The fertile east coast of what would become US and Canada was soon dotted with the farms of Scottish settlers. Some of them remained faithful to the crown and called themselves United Empire Loyalists, while others had the chance to pay back their old oppressors in the American War of Independence. That brave spirit lives on today in the highland games that dot North America in the summer. Passenger and immigration lists indicate that members of the Bonvill family came to North America quite early: Baker and his brother James Bonfield arrived in Philadelphia in 1832; Joe Bonfilly settled in Virginia in 1635.

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)
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
Burke, John Bernard, The Roll of Battle Abbey. London: Edward Churton, 26, Holles Street, 1848, Print.
Hutchins, Fortescue, The History of Cornwall, from the Earliest Records and Traditions to the Present Time. London: William Penaluna, 1824. Print
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print