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| Origins Available: |
| | England |
The origins of the Boncan name lie with England's ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. It comes from when the family lived in the village of Butcombe in the county of Somerset.
The surname Boncan was first found in Somerset, where "this surname is derived from a geographical locality. 'of Buncombe,' or 'Boncombe,' some spot in the West country." 1 Kirby's Quest notes that Richard de Bounecombe was listed there, 1 Edward III (during the first year of King Edward III's reign.) 2
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Boncan research. Another 189 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1086, 1327 and 1500 are included under the topic Early Boncan History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Before the last few hundred years, the English language had no fast system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations are commonly found in early Anglo-Saxon surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Boncan were recorded, including Buncombe, Butcombe, Bounecombe, Bunecombe, Buncomb, Boncombe and many more.
More information is included under the topic Early Boncan Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
To escape oppression and starvation at that time, many English families left for the "open frontiers" of the New World with all its perceived opportunities. In droves people migrated to the many British colonies, those in North America in particular, paying high rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Although many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, those who did see the shores of North America perceived great opportunities before them. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Research into various historical records revealed some of first members of the Boncan family emigrate to North America: William Bunchcombe who arrived in Virginia in 1663.