The surname is one of the Anglo-Norman surnames that came to
Ireland in the 12th century.
Ireland already had an established system of
hereditary surnames, often the two traditions blended together quite well, but the incoming Anglo-
Normans also brought with them
local surnames, such as Barnewille.
Local names were taken from the names of a place or a geographical feature where the person lived, held land, or was born, some from places in
Normandy, or more typically, from
England. Originally, the place names were prefixed by de, which means from in French. This type of prefix was eventually either made a part of the surname if the place name began with a vowel or was eliminated entirely. The Barnewille family appears to have originally lived in either of the settlements called Barnwell in the English counties of Cambridge and
Northumberland. The Gaelic form of the surname Barnewille is de Bearnabhal.
Early Origins of the Barnewille family
The surname Barnewille was first found in
County Meath at Crickstown Castle. "De Bernvale, accompanied William the Conqueror to
England in 1066. He came from Lower
Brittany, and was allied to the dukes of that province"
[1]CITATION[CLOSE]
Lowe, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print. Another source is more specific: "Sir Michael de Berneval, a scion of the family founded by the Norman knight, joined the English expedition fitted out against
Ireland and affected a descent upon Beerhaven in the co. of Cork. "
[2]CITATION[CLOSE]
Burke, John Bernard, The Roll of Battle Abbey. London: Edward Churton, 26, Holles Street, 1848, Print.
Early History of the Barnewille family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Barnewille research.
Another 143 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1646, 1640, 1534, 1538, 1704, 1779, 1779, 1842, 1500, 1552, 1522, 1575, 1592 and 1663 are included under the topic Early Barnewille History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Barnewille Spelling Variations
A single person's name was often spelt simply as it sounded by medieval scribes and church officials. An investigation into the specific origins the name Barnewille has revealed that such a practice has resulted in many
spelling variations over the years. A few of its variants include: Barnewall, Barnwall, Barnwill, Barnewill, Barnewell, Barnewelle, Barnwelle, Barnwell, Bernwell, Barneville and many more.
Early Notables of the Barnewille family (pre 1700)
Notable amongst the family up to this time was John Barnewall, 3rd
Baron Trimlestown (1534-1538); Robert Barnewall, 12th
Baron Trimlestown (c.1704-1779), a prominent Anglo-Irish landowner, active in the Roman Catholic cause...
Another 30 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Barnewille Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Barnewille family to Ireland
Some of the Barnewille family moved to
Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 217 words (16 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Barnewille family to the New World and Oceana
In the 1840s,
Ireland experienced a mass exodus to North America due to the
Great Potato Famine. These families wanted to escape from hunger and disease that was ravaging their homeland. With the promise of work, freedom and land overseas, the Irish looked upon British North America and the United States as a means of hope and prosperity. Those that survived the journey were able to achieve this through much hard work and perseverance. Early immigration and passenger lists revealed many bearing the name Barnewille: Nicholas Barnwel who settled in Barbados in 1679; John arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1798; Robert settled there in 1831; Thomas landed in New York state in 1823..
The Barnewille 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: Malo mori quam foedari
Motto Translation: I would rather die than be disgraced.