Show ContentsBelleville History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Belleville

What does the name Belleville mean?

The name Belleville 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 Belleville family

The surname Belleville 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 Belleville family

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

Belleville Spelling Variations

The many different spellings of French surnames can be partially explained by the use of local dialects and by the influence of other languages during the early development of the French language. As a result of these linguistic and cultural influences, the name Belleville 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 Belleville family

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

Belleville Ranking

In France, the name Belleville is the 4,703rd most popular surname with an estimated 1,500 - 2,000 people with that name. 4


Belleville migration to the United States +

France finally gave land incentives for 2,000 migrants during the 1700s. 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, the Acadians 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 Belleville were prominent in social, cultural, religious and political affairs in France and New France. Amongst the settlers in North America with this distinguished name Belleville were

Belleville Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Francois Belleville who settled in Louisiana in 1756
Belleville Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Francois Belleville, aged 40, originally from Lyons, France, who arrived in New York in 1919 aboard the ship "Rochambeau" from Le Havre, France 5
  • Lina Belleville, aged 43, originally from St.Denis, France, who arrived in New York in 1920 aboard the ship "Rotterdam" from BOULOGNE-SUR-MER 5
  • Susanne Belleville, aged 23, originally from Paris, France, who arrived in New York in 1921 aboard the ship "Niagara" from Le Havre, France 5

Belleville migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Belleville Settlers in Canada in the 17th Century
  • Francois Belleville, who arrived in Montreal in 1653

Contemporary Notables of the name Belleville (post 1700) +

  • Frederic De Belleville (1855-1923), Belgian-born, American stage actor
  • Julien Belleville (1823-1896), French inventor who developed and patented the "Belleville, " a type of spring shaped like a washer, in Dunkerque, France in 1867


  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. http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
  5. Ellis Island Search retrieved 15th November 2022. Retrieved from https://heritage.statueofliberty.org/passenger-result


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