The present generation of the Belknap family is only the most recent to bear a name that dates back to the ancient
Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. Their name comes from having lived in Belknapp, in the county of Warwickshire.
Early Origins of the Belknap family
The surname Belknap was first found in
Warwickshire, at Griff, a hamlet, in the parish of Chilvers-Coton, union of Nuneaton, Atherstone division of the
hundred of Hemlingford. This hamlet was held by the Giffard family since the reign of Elizabeth I and later passed to the Newdigates, of Arbury.
[1]CITATION[CLOSE]
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print. According to Duchesne, in his publication "List of Conquerors of
England," Belknape was one of the companions to William the Conqueror and is listed on the Roll of Battle Abbey.
[2]CITATION[CLOSE]
Burke, John Bernard, The Roll of Battle Abbey. London: Edward Churton, 26, Holles Street, 1848, Print. However, little else is known of the family in earlier times. The next earliest record of the family was found in the hamlet of Griff as a birth record of Sir John Belknap (1309-1367.) He was father of Sir Robert Belknap (1339-1399) who was appointed Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas in
England. His son was Hamon Belknap (1394-1429), also known variously as Bealknap and Beltoft. One of his sons was Henry Belknap, Lord of Oston (1435-1488.)
Early History of the Belknap family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Belknap research.
Another 159 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1374, 1388, 1428, 1420, 1404, 1471 and 1521 are included under the topic Early Belknap History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Belknap Spelling Variations
Until the dictionary, an invention of only the last few hundred years, the English language lacked any comprehensive system of spelling rules. Consequently,
spelling variations in names are frequently found in early
Anglo-Saxon and later Anglo-Norman documents. One person's name was often spelled several different ways over a lifetime. The recorded variations of Belknap include Belknap, Bellknap, Belknape, Belknappe, Bellknappe and many more.
Early Notables of the Belknap family (pre 1700)
Another 30 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Belknap Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Belknap family to the New World and Oceana
Thousands of English families boarded ships sailing to the New World in the hope of escaping the unrest found in
England at this time. Although the search for opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad took the lives of many because of the cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels, the opportunity perceived in the growing colonies of North America beckoned. Many of the settlers who survived the journey went on to make important contributions to the transplanted cultures of their adopted countries. The Belknap were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records:
Belknap Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
- Thomas Belknap who settled in Lynn Massachusetts in 1620
- Abraham Belknap, the scion of the family from Warwickshire, also settled in Lynn in 1637
- Abraham Belknap, who landed in Lynn, Massachusetts in 1637 [3]CITATION[CLOSE]
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)
Belknap Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
- Mr. Belknap, who arrived in Mobile, Ala in 1822 [3]CITATION[CLOSE]
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) - D P Belknap, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1850 [3]CITATION[CLOSE]
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) - D H Belknap, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1851 [3]CITATION[CLOSE]
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)
Contemporary Notables of the name Belknap (post 1700)
- Hugh Reid Belknap (1860-1901), U.S. Representative from Illinois
- Daniel Belknap (1771-1815), American farmer, mechanic, militia captain, poet and one of the first American composers
- Anna Belknap (b. 1972), American actress, best known for her role as Detective Lindsay Monroe on CSI: NY
- William Worth Belknap (1829-1890), American Army general, and 30th U.S. Secretary of War (1869-1876)
- Jeremy Belknap, American clergyman and historian
- George Belknap (1832-1903), United States Navy Rear Admiral
- Charles E. Belknap (1846-1929), United States Army Civil War officer and politician from Michigan
- William G. Belknap (1794-1851), United States Brigadier General
- Reginald R. Belknap (1871-1959), United States Navy rear admiral and son of George Belknap