Ballstrode History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The origins of the Ballstrode name lie with England's ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. It comes from when the family lived in Bulstrode, an estate in Buckinghamshire that has long been associated with the family. Today, Bulstrode is a large park and mansion to the southwest of the Buckinghamshire town centre of Gerrard's Cross.

Early Origins of the Ballstrode family

The surname Ballstrode was first found in Buckinghamshire, where the estate dates back to at least the Norman Conquest. An early poem states "When William conquered English ground, Bulstrode had per annum three hundred pound." The Conqueror gave the estate to the Norman follower, "he and his adherents, mounted upon Bulls, resisted the invaders and retained possession. Afterwards, accompanied by his seven sons, mounted in the same fashion, he went under safe conduct to William's court, and the Conqueror was so much amused wit the strangeness of the scene, that he permitted the stalwart Saxon to hold his lands under ancient tenure, and conferred upon him and his heirs for ever the surname of Bullstrode!" 1

Early History of the Ballstrode family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ballstrode research. Another 133 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1205, 1221, 1273, 1407, 1588, 1592, 1603, 1610, 1617, 1650, 1659, 1675, 1711, 1717 and 1724 are included under the topic Early Ballstrode History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ballstrode Spelling Variations

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 Ballstrode were recorded, including Bulstrode, Bulestrod, Bulestrode, Bulstrod, Bullstrod and many more.

Early Notables of the Ballstrode family

Notables of this surname at this time include: Edward Bulstrode (1588-1659), a prominent lawyer. Edward was the second son of Edward Bulstrode of Hedgeley, near Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire. "He became a commoner of St. John's College, Oxford, in 1603, but left it without a degree. He died in or near the Inner Temple about the beginning of April 1659, and on the 4th of that month was buried in the body of the church on the south...
Another 75 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Ballstrode Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Ballstrode family

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 Ballstrode family emigrate to North America: a number of settlers who arrived by the 19th century.

Citations +

Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.