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![Show Contents]() Hellisfield History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 England
Early Origins of the Hellisfield familyThe surname Hellisfield was first found in Oxfordshire where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor. After the Battle of Hastings in 1066, William, Duke of Normandy, having prevailed over King Harold, granted most of Britain to his many victorious Barons. It was not uncommon to find a Baron, or a Bishop, with 60 or more Lordships scattered throughout the country. These he gave to his sons, nephews and other junior lines of his family and they became known as under-tenants. They adopted the Norman system of surnames which identified the under-tenant with his holdings so as to distinguish him from the senior stem of the family. After many rebellious wars between his Barons, Duke William, commissioned a census of all England to determine in 1086, settling once and for all, who held which land. He called the census the Domesday Book, 1 indicating that those holders registered would hold the land until the end of time. Hence, conjecturally, the surname is descended from the tenant of the lands of Elsfield, held by Thurstan from Robert d'Oilly, Oxford's great Norman Baron who was recorded in the Domesday Book census of 1086. Thurstan may have been Robert's vassal. Early History of the Hellisfield familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hellisfield research. Another 65 words (5 lines of text) covering the year 1634 is included under the topic Early Hellisfield History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Hellisfield Spelling VariationsBefore English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, Norman French and other languages became incorporated into English throughout the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Hellisfield include Elsfield, Ellisfield, Ellesfield, Ellsfield, Elesfield, Helsfield, Ellesfield, Elesfield, Hellsfield, Hellesfield, Helesfield, Helisfield and many more. Early Notables of the Hellisfield familyMore information is included under the topic Early Hellisfield Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Hellisfield familyIn England at this time, the uncertainty of the political and religious environment of the time caused many families to board ships for distant British colonies in the hopes of finding land and opportunity, and escaping persecution. The voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, though, and many arrived in North America sick, starved, and destitute. Those who did make it, however, were greeted with greater opportunities and freedoms that they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make important contributions to the young nations in which they settled. Early immigration records have shown some of the first Hellisfields to arrive on North American shores: settlers were recorded from the mid 17th century in the great migration from Europe. Migrants settled on the eastern seaboard from Newfoundland, to Boston, to Virginia, to Florida, and to the islands..
- Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
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