| ![Show Contents]() Bellasis History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The name Bellasis came to England with the ancestors of the Bellasis family in the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Bellasis family lived in Durham, where they were established by the early Middle Ages. Early Origins of the Bellasis familyThe surname Bellasis was first found in Durham where they held a family seat. Belasius, a Norman Lord, attended William Duke of Normandy at Hastings in 1066 when King Harold was defeated. Belasius became General of William's forces against the remnant of the Saxon Army commanded by the Princes Edwin and Morcar in the famous siege of the Isle of Ely. Morton-Grange in Durham was home to a branch of the family. "This place formerly belonged to the family of Belasyse, to whom Cardinal Wolsey, in 1525, granted a lease of the manor and grange, and of whom was Sir William Belasyse, Knt., of Morton, High Sheriff of the county under the see of Durham from 1628 until his death in 1641." 1 In later years. some of the family held a family seat at Worlaby in Lincolnshire. "This place, which is included in the duchy of Lancaster, was the seat of the Belasis family, one of whom, John, second son of the first Viscount Fauconberg, was lord of the treasury under James II., and was in 1644 created a Baron, of Worlaby, or Worletby; a title that became extinct on the death of his grandson without issue." 1 Early History of the Bellasis familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bellasis research. Another 116 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1577, 1614, 1627, 1648, 1653, 1661, 1673, 1678, 1689, 1691, 1692, 1700, 1701 and 1717 are included under the topic Early Bellasis History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Bellasis Spelling VariationsMultitudes 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 Bellsize, Belsize, Belasyse, Bellasise, Belasize, Bellasize, Belasise, Belasis and many more. Early Notables of the Bellasis familyMore information is included under the topic Early Bellasis Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Bellasis familyBecause 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 Bellasis or a variant listed above: Ralph Belasis who landed in North America in 1760.
| Contemporary Notables of the name Bellasis (post 1700) | + |
- Edward Bellasis (1800-1873), English Serjeant-at-Law, only son of the Rev. George Bellasis, D.D., of Queen's College, Oxford, rector of Yattendon and vicar of Basilden and Ashampstead, Berkshire 2
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: Bonne et belle assez
Motto Translation: Good and handsome enough (in allusion to the fleur-de-lis on their shield)
- Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
- Wikisource contributors. "Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900." Wikisource . Wikisource , 4 Jun. 2018. Web. 14 June. 2019
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