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Show ContentsBellefeuille History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
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Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

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The name Bellefeuille 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 Bellefeuille family

The surname Bellefeuille 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 Bellefeuille family

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

Bellefeuille Spelling Variations

Changes of spelling have occurred in most surnames. The earliest explanation is that during the early development of the French language, names were not yet fixed in spelling. Usually a person gave his version of his name, phonetically, to a scribe, a priest, or a recorder. This depended on accent, and local accents frequently changed the spelling of a name. Some variables were adopted by different branches of the family name. Hence, there are some spelling variations of the name Bellefeuille, including 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 Bellefeuille family (pre 1700)

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

United States Bellefeuille migration to the United States +

Approximately 110 years after the first landings by Cartier, there were only about 300 people in Quebec. France gave land incentives for 2,000 migrants during the next decade. Early marriage was desperately encouraged amongst the immigrants. The fur trade attracted migrants, both noble and commoner. 15,000 explorers left Montreal in the late 17th and 18th centuries. By 1675, there were 7000 French in Quebec. Migration to New France (Quebec) continued from France until it fell in 1759. In the year 1675 the Acadian presence in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island had reached 500. In 1755, 10,000 French Acadians refused to take an oath of allegiance to England and were deported to Louisiana. The French founded Lower Canada, thus becoming one of the two great founding nations of Canada. The distinguished family name Bellefeuille has made significant contributions to the culture, arts, sciences and religion of France and New France. Amongst the settlers in North America with this distinguished name Bellefeuille were

Bellefeuille Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Ardeaus Belle Feuille, aged 31, arrived in New York in 1910 aboard the ship "Saratoga" from Havana, Cuba [4]

Contemporary Notables of the name Bellefeuille (post 1700) +

  • Claude Bellefeuille, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Vermont, 1952, 1956
  • Pierre de Bellefeuille (1923-2015), Canadian politician, MNA for Deux-Montagnes (1976-1985)
  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)
  4. "New York Passenger Arrival Lists (Ellis Island), 1892-1924," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JJ6B-D4X : 6 December 2014), Ardeaus Belle Feuille, 09 Aug 1910; citing departure port Havana, arrival port New York, ship name Saratoga, NARA microfilm publication T715 and M237 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
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