Bellinghams History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland
Ireland

The ancestors of the Bellinghams family took their surname from a place name. The roots of this place name lie with the ancient Viking settlers. The Bellinghams surname comes from someone having lived in the manor of Bellingham in Northumberland, where the family held this estate since the early Middle Ages. By trade, the family was traditionally foresters, and principally cared for the forest of Tynedale, "for tyme beyond memory". The name literally means "homestead of the dwellers at the bell-shaped hill" and is derived from the Old English words Bell+ ing + ham. 1

Early Origins of the Bellinghams family

The surname Bellinghams was first found in Bellingham, Northumberland, where Alan of Bellingham was Lord of the manor shortly after the Norman Conquest in 1066. 2

Early records show that there were perpetual feuds between Alan de Bellingham and the Charltons of Hasleyside. It seems that the Charletons were the victor as while they have a mansion near the town, the Bellinghams have pretty much disappeared from the county. Henry Bellingham of Bellingham was made Knight Banneret by King Henry VI after the battle of Wakefield.

Richard Billingham or Bullingham (fl. 1350), was a schoolman, "whose name appears on the rolls of Merton College, Oxford, between 1344 and 1350, is mentioned by Wood (Antiquities of Oxford, i. 447 seqq.) as having been concerned in a riot arising about an election to the chancellorship of the University in 1349. " 3

Billingham Manor (or Billingham House) is a manor house in Chillerton, on the Isle of Wight that dates back to 1631.

Early History of the Bellinghams family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bellinghams research. Another 162 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1296, 1506, 1511, 1512, 1528, 1530, 1545, 1548, 1549, 1560, 1571, 1576, 1592, 1597, 1598, 1605, 1625, 1633, 1634, 1641, 1672, 1950 and 1958 are included under the topic Early Bellinghams History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bellinghams Spelling Variations

Spelling and translation were quite undeveloped in the Middle Ages. Consequently, the spelling of Scottish names was an inconsistent practice, usually governed by the unique ear of the scribe recording the name. Over the years, Bellinghams was spelled Bellingham, Bellinghame, Belingham, Belinghame, Billingham and many more.

Early Notables of the Bellinghams family

Notable amongst the family at this time was Richard Bellingham (1592?-1672), an English colonial magistrate, lawyer, and several-time Governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. "He was educated for the law, and from 1625 to 8 Nov. 1633 was recorder of Boston, Lincolnshire. In 1634 he emigrated, along with his wife, to Massachusetts, and in the following year he was elected deputy governor of the colony. By a majority of six votes over John Winthrop he was, in 1641, elected governor. " 3 Sir Edward Bellingham d. 1549), was Lord Deputy of Ireland and the oldest son of Edward Bellingham, Esq., of Erlingham...
Another 119 words (8 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Bellinghams Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Bellinghams family to Ireland

Some of the Bellinghams family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 111 words (8 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Bellinghams family

Opportunity and land greeted those who made it all the way. Some had the opportunity to solidify their new freedom by fighting in the American War of Independence, while others went or stayed north as United Empire Loyalists. Recently, the ancestors of those brave settlers have been able to recover much of their heritage through Clan societies and other patriotic organizations. A thorough examination of passenger and immigration lists has disclosed evidence of many early immigrants of the name Bellinghams: Richard and William Bellingham who settled in Boston Massachusetts in 1630; Robert Bellingham arrived in San Francisco, Cal. in 1850; Mary Billingham settled in Maryland in 1741.

The Bellinghams Motto +

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: Ainsi il est
Motto Translation: Thus it is.

Citations +

Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print