Bayfeild History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Early Origins of the Bayfeild family

The surname Bayfeild was first found in Norfolk, a Bayfield, a parish, in the union of Erpingham, hundred of Holt. 1

Hence, conjecturally, the surname is descended from the under-tenant of the lands of Bayfield which were held by under-tenant Walter Giffard from the King (Duke William) and who was recorded in the Domesday Book census of 1086. Walter (Gautier) Giffard was Count of Longueville, and his main seat was at Aveton Manor. He and his relations held many manors.

Early History of the Bayfeild family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bayfeild research. Another 100 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1208, 1390, 1461, 1531 and 1668 are included under the topic Early Bayfeild History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bayfeild Spelling Variations

Multitudes of spelling variations are a hallmark of Anglo Norman names. Most of these names evolved in the 11th and 12th century, in the time after the Normans introduced their own Norman French language into a country where Old and Middle English had no spelling rules and the languages of the court were French and Latin. To make matters worse, medieval scribes spelled words according to sound, so names frequently appeared differently in the various documents in which they were recorded. The name was spelled Bayfield, Baifield, Bafield, Bayfeld and others.

Early Notables of the Bayfeild family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Richard Bayfield (died 1531) an English Protestant martyr. After exile to the Low Countries, he then returned to England and was active in circulating the New Testament and other prohibited books, including the works of Luther, Zwingli and Melancthon. He was discovered, imprisoned...
Another 50 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Bayfeild Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bayfeild migration to the United States +

Because of this political and religious unrest within English society, many people decided to immigrate to the colonies. Families left for Ireland, North America, and Australia in enormous numbers, traveling at high cost in extremely inhospitable conditions. The New World in particular was a desirable destination, but the long voyage caused many to arrive sick and starving. Those who made it, though, were welcomed by opportunities far greater than they had known at home in England. Many of these families went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Bayfeild or a variant listed above:

Bayfeild Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Geo Bayfeild, who settled in Virginia in 1670

Citations +

Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.