Show ContentsCanfill History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Canfill family

The surname Canfill was first found in Northamptonshire where Gerald de Camvile, the grandson of the Norman adventurer held a family seat temp. Stephen at Lilburne Castle. He granted two parts of the tithes of Charletin Camvile in Somersetshire to the monks of Bermondsey in Surrey. His son, Richard de Camvile founded Combe Abbey in Warwickshire and was known as a person of great power during the reign of Henry II. 1

Gerrard de Camville (d. 1215?), was an early judge and was "son of Richard de Camville, who is mentioned among the leaders and constables of Richard I's fleet in 1190, was appointed joint governor of Cyprus with Robert de Turneham in 1191, and died at the siege of Acre in the same year." 2

Thomas de Camville (d. 1235), was also an early judge, third son of William, brother of Gerard de Camville, by Albreda, daughter of Geoffrey Marmion. He held the manors of Westerham in Kent and Senefield and Fobbing in Essex. 2

Early History of the Canfill family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Canfill research. Another 137 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1180, 1295, 1307, 1455, 1487, 1510 and 1600 are included under the topic Early Canfill History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Canfill Spelling Variations

Only recently has spelling become standardized in the English language. As the English language evolved in the Middle Ages, the spelling of names changed also. The name Canfill has undergone many spelling variations, including Camville, Canville, Camvile, Camvill, Canvill, Canfill, Canfille, Canfile, Camfill, Camfille, Canville and many more.

Early Notables of the Canfill family

More information is included under the topic Early Canfill Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Canfill family

To escape the unstable social climate in England of this time, many families boarded ships for the New World with the hope of finding land, opportunity, and greater religious and political freedom. Although the voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, those families that arrived often found greater opportunities and freedoms than they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make significant contributions to the rapidly developing colonies in which they settled. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Canfill were among those contributors: the name represented in many forms and recorded from the mid 17th century in the great migration from Europe. Migrants settled in the eastern seaboard from Newfoundland, to Maine, to Virginia, the Carolinas, and to the islands..



  1. Burke, John Bernard, The Roll of Battle Abbey. London: Edward Churton, 26, Holles Street, 1848, Print.
  2. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print


Houseofnames.com on Facebook