Show ContentsBelevill History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Belevill has a long French heritage that first began in northwestern region of Brittany. The name is derived from when the family lived in the seigneurie of Belleville, which translates from the French as "beautiful town."

Early Origins of the Belevill family

The surname Belevill was first found in Normandy from Belleville or Bella Villa, near Dieppe, now called Belleville-sur-Mer. "Jean de Belleville took part in the third crusade; and Raoul de Belleville was one of the knights serving in the castle of Arques in 1419. This old Norman house is now represented by the Marquis de Belleville, who is seated at Pont-Tranquart near Dieppe." 1

"In England the name is often given Boleville. Robert de Boleville, in 1165, held two knight's fees of the Earl of Gloucester in Gloucestershire 2 and Godfrey de Bellavalle is mentioned in Essex 1194-1198 (Rot. Cur. Regis). Ralph de Bellaville, in the time of Richard I., was a benefactor of Vaudrey Abbey, Lincoln (Mon. i. 833), to which he gave some lands in Yorkshire. Nicholas de Bolevill and his wife Avicia held in Devon of the Honour of Gloucester 3. Nicholas de Bolleville was knight of the shire for Somerset in 1316 (Palgrave's Pari. Writs). Another Nicholas (perhaps father to the last), was among "the faithful nobles " summoned in 1238 by Henry III." 1

Early History of the Belevill family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Belevill research. Another 87 words (6 lines of text) covering the year 1744 is included under the topic Early Belevill History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Belevill Spelling Variations

French surnames were subject to numerous spelling alterations depending on the region and time it was used. The early development of the French language relied heavily on borrowing elements and grammar from other languages. For example, Old French was infused with Germanic words and sounds when barbarian tribes invaded and settled in France after the fall of the Roman Empire. Middle French also borrowed heavily from the Italian language during the Renaissance. As a result of these linguistic and cultural influences, the name Belevill is distinguished by a number of regional variations. The many spelling variations of the name include Beleville, Belleville, Bellevill, Belevill, Belavill, Bellavill, Bellaville, Bellivill, Belivill, Belliville, Bailleuville, Baileuville, Baileuvile, Bailleuvill, Ballevall, Ballevalle, de Belleville, De Belleville, Bellefeul, Bellefeull and many more.

Early Notables of the Belevill family

More information is included under the topic Early Belevill Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Belevill family

In the 1700s, land incentives were finally given out by France to 2,000 migrants. Early marriage was encouraged in New France, and youths of 18 took fourteen-year-old girls for their wives. The fur trade was developed and attracted migrants, both noble and commoner from France. 15,000 explorers left Montreal in the late 17th and 18th centuries, leaving French names scattered across the continent. The search for the Northwest passage continued. Migration from France to New France or Quebec, as it was now more popularly called, continued until 1759. By 1675, there were 7000 French in Quebec. By the same year the Acadian presence in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island had reached 500. In the treaty of Utrecht, Acadia were ceded by France to Britain in 1713. In 1755, 10,000 French Acadians refused to take an oath of allegiance to England and were deported. They found refuge in Louisiana. Meanwhile, in Quebec, the French race flourished, founding in Lower Canada, one of the two great solitudes which became Canada. Many of this distinguished family name Belevill were prominent in social, cultural, religious and political affairs in France and New France. Amongst the settlers in North America with this distinguished name Belevill were Francois Belleville who settled in Louisiana in 1756; Louis Bellefeulle arrived from Angoumois in 1735 in Quebec.



  1. Cleveland, Dutchess of The Battle Abbey Roll with some Account of the Norman Lineages. London: John Murray, Abermarle Street, 1889. Print. Volume 3 of 3
  2. Liber Niger Scutarii ("Black Book of the Exchequer"), containing reports by county on feudal holdings in England in 1166 (reign of Henry II)
  3. Testa de Nevill or "Liber Feodorum" or "Book of Fees," thought to have been written by Ralph de Nevill, for King John (1199–1216)


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