Belch History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The name Belch has a long Anglo-Saxon heritage. The name comes from when a family lived at or near a bank or ridge. Further research showed the name was derived from the Old English word Balca which means dweller by the bank or ridge. 1

Early Origins of the Belch family

The surname Belch was first found in Oxfordshire, where William Belch was first listed as a Templar in 1185. Later, William le Belch was listed as holding lands in Essex in 1295 and Robert Balch was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1328. 1

Kirby's Quest lists "Robert Balch, Somerset, 1 Edward III" (holding lands there during the first year's reign of Edward III.) 2

Sir Toby Belch is a character in William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night.

Early History of the Belch family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Belch research. Another 164 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1185, 1295, 1327, 1332, 1604, 1659, 1669, 1670, 1735 and 1744 are included under the topic Early Belch History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Belch Spelling Variations

Spelling variations in names were a common occurrence before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate spelled their names differently as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Belch have been found, including Balch, Balche, Belch, Belche, Ballch, Bellch, Ballche and many more.

Early Notables of the Belch family

Another 36 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Belch Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Belch migration to the United States +

Families began migrating abroad in enormous numbers because of the political and religious discontent in England. Often faced with persecution and starvation in England, the possibilities of the New World attracted many English people. Although the ocean trips took many lives, those who did get to North America were instrumental in building the necessary groundwork for what would become for new powerful nations. Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America bore the name Belch, or a variant listed above:

Belch Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Jonathan Belch, who arrived in Virginia in 1711 3
Wilhelm Belch, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1749 3

Belch Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Joseph Belch, who landed in New York in 1830 3

Belch migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Belch Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. Duncan Belch, (b. 1863), aged Infant, British settler travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Lancashire Witch" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 13th October 1863 4
Mr. John Belch, (b. 1836), aged 27, British carpenter travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Lancashire Witch" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 13th October 1863 4
Mrs. Mary Belch, (b. 1839), aged 24, British settler travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Lancashire Witch" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 13th October 1863 4

Contemporary Notables of the name Belch (post 1700) +

Joseph S. Belch, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate in primary for Michigan State Senate 5th District, 1958, 1960 5
J. Edward Belch, American politician, Member of Missouri State Senate 27th District, 1873-76 5

Historic Events for the Belch family +

Halifax Explosion

Sergt. J. F. Belch, Canadian resident from Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 6

Citations +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 29) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
Halifax Explosion Book of Remembrance | Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. (Retrieved 2014, June 23) . Retrieved from https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/halifax-explosion/halifax-explosion-book-remembrance