Bushnel History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The present generation of the Bushnel family is only the most recent to bear a name that dates back to the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. Their name comes from having lived in Yorkshire, in the parish of Bossall. While the surname is largely considered local, there are other possible origins of this name. It may be of patronymic origin, based on the first name of the father and would have derived as "the son of Bussell." 1

The name may also be of occupational origin and in this latter case it was originally derived from the Old English word busshel and would probably have been used to describe one who made bushel-baskets. 2

Early Origins of the Bushnel family

The surname Bushnel was first found in the North Riding or Yorkshire as Bossall, a parish, partly in the wapentake of Birdforth, but chiefly in that of Bulmer. 3 The parish dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086 where it was first listed as Bosciale 4 and probably meant "nook of land of a man called Bot or Botsige," from the Old English personal name + "halh." 5

The parish of Hutton-Buscel (also in the North Riding of Yorkshire) is of particular significance to the family. "This parish derives its name from having been anciently the 'High town of the Buscel or Bushel family.' " 3

The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls include: Margareta Bosell; Johannes Bussell; Laurencius Bossell; and Johanna Bossell as all holding lands there at that time. 1

Over in Leyland, Lancashire, another branch of the family was found in ancient times. "Warin Bussel, one of the barons under Roger de Poictou, in the reign of William I., held, among his ample demesnes, the parish of Leyland: at a very early period." 3

Another early record was found in Birkdale, Lancashire. The manor of Birkdale was originally held by Wibert in 1066. Warin Bussel (presumably the same as the aforementioned) held a portion of Penwortham before 1100. However, there mention of Bussel handing the property down to his heirs as the manor was passed to the Halsall family. 6

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 include: Geoffrey Buscel, Norfolk; Reginald Buscel, Norfolk; William Bushel, Huntingdonshire; and John Bussel, Cambridgeshire 1

Newton Bushell, Devon was held by "the Bushells, its possessors in the latter half of the thirteenth century. Teignweek was given in 1246 to Theobald de Englishville, and by him to his foster-child and kinsman, Robert Bushell. The Bushells continued until Richard II., when their heiress brought it to the Yardes. " 7

In Somerset, "Bushell is a name now scantily represented in the county. Two hundred years ago there was a Bath family of this name, members of which, on various occasions, filled the office of mayor (Warner's "Bath"). The name is still in that city." 8

Early History of the Bushnel family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bushnel research. Another 195 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1086, 1140, 1200, 1594, 1609, 1621, 1643, 1651, 1667, 1670, 1674, 1684 and 1701 are included under the topic Early Bushnel History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bushnel Spelling Variations

Until the dictionary, an invention of only the last few hundred years, the English language lacked any comprehensive system of spelling rules. Consequently, spelling variations in names are frequently found in early Anglo-Saxon and later Anglo-Norman documents. One person's name was often spelled several different ways over a lifetime. The recorded variations of Bushnel include Bushell, Bussel, Bushle, Bushel, Bussell, Buchell, Buchel, Boushell, Boushel, Bousel and many more.

Early Notables of the Bushnel family

Distinguished members of the family include

Edward Bushel (c.1670), was foreman of an English jury that refused to return a guilty verdict under coercion, eponym of the term Bushel's Case; and John Bushnell (died 1701), was an English sculptor...
John Bushnell (d. 1701), was an English "sculptor, a pupil of Thomas Burman, who, having seduced his servant girl, forced Bushnell into marrying her. Bushnell thereupon quitted England in disgust, and...
Walter Bushnell (1609-1667), was an ejected clergyman under the Commonwealth, the son of William Bushnell of Corsham, Wiltshire. 9

Migration of the Bushnel family

Thousands of English families boarded ships sailing to the New World in the hope of escaping the unrest found in England at this time. Although the search for opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad took the lives of many because of the cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels, the opportunity perceived in the growing colonies of North America beckoned. Many of the settlers who survived the journey went on to make important contributions to the transplanted cultures of their adopted countries. The Bushnel were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records: Henry Bushel settled in Virginia in 1622; Joseph Bushel settled in Pennsylvania in 1683 with his wife Sarah and two daughters; Edward Bushel settled in Barbados in 1678.

The Bushnel 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: Dum spiro spero
Motto Translation: While I have breath I hope.

Citations +

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.
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
'Townships: Scarisbrick', in A History of the County of Lancaster: Volume 3, ed. William Farrer and J Brownbill (London, 1907), pp. 265-276. British History Online http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/lancs/vol3/pp265-276 [accessed 21 January 2017].
Worth, R.N., A History of Devonshire London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, E.G., 1895. Digital
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print