Show ContentsBellomonte History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Bellomonte

What does the name Bellomonte mean?

The name Bellomonte was brought to England in the wave of migration that followed the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Bellomonte family lived in Dorset and Gloucestershire. "There existed at a remote period, a family of Beaumont in Normandy, and it was, probably, one of its cadets whose name was inscribed on the muster Roll at Battle. Certain it is that he could not have been the founder of the illustrious House of Beaumont, which, in two centuries after, appears so prominently conspicuous among the most potent barons of the realm, and which was established in this country by Henry de Beaumont, fourth son of Agnes de Beaumont, by her husband, Louie, second son of Charles, Kind of Jerusalem, and nephew of Loius IX. of France." 1

Early Origins of the Bellomonte family

The surname Bellomonte was first found in Dorset and Gloucestershire, where "Roger de Belmont appears in [the] Domesday [Book] as chief tenant. According to Sir H. Ellis, he was a near kinsman of the Conqueror, being lineal descendant of that king's great grandfather. Some trace the noble English families from the Viscounts Beaumont of Normandy, and others from the blood-royal of France." 2

The chapelry of Ryall in Northumberland is of particular interest to the family. "This was the lordship of John, Lord Beaumont, who died seised of Ryall about the year 1396, leaving it, with many other estates in this county and elsewhere, to his son and heir, Henry, then sixteen years of age, who was knighted at the coronation of Henry IV." 3

Upper Whitley in the West Riding of Yorkshire was home to another branch of the family. "The founder of the ancient family of Beaumont here, was a Knight Hospitaller of St. John of Jerusalem, who received the manor on condition of performing certain military services in the time of Henry III. Whitley Hall has ever since been the principal residence of the family, and is now in the possession of R. H. Beaumont, Esq. [(c. 1860)]" 3

Robert de Beaumont (d. 1118), was Count of Meulan, a feudal statesman and son of Roger de Beaumont ('de Bellomonte' in the Latinized form) and grandson of Humfrey de Vielles. 4

His son, Robert de Beaumont Earl of Leicester (1104-1168), was Justiciary of England, and a twin with his brother Waleran. Waleran de Beaumont Count of Meulan (1104-1166), was a warrior and feudal statesman and twin brother of Robert, Earl of Leicester. Robert de Beaumont Earl of Leicester (d. 1190), was a baronial leader and son of Robert de Beaumont, Earl of Leicester. 4

"The leading manor of South Tawton, [Devon] was once in the Beaumonts, being granted by Henry I. to Roselm Beaumont, Viscount de Mayne, whose granddaughter brought it to Roger de Tony." 5

Early History of the Bellomonte family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bellomonte research. Another 136 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1086, 1198, 1305, 1309, 1340, 1438, 1507, 1584, 1585, 1616, 1636, 1638, 1650, 1660, 1668, 1669, 1676, 1679, 1685, 1689, 1699, 1701 and 1929 are included under the topic Early Bellomonte History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bellomonte Spelling Variations

Norman surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. The frequent changes in surnames are largely due to the fact that the Old and Middle English languages lacked definite spelling rules. The introduction of Norman French to England, as well as the official court languages of Latin and French, also had pronounced influences on the spelling of surnames. Since medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, rather than adhering to any specific spelling rules, it was common to find the same individual referred to with different spellings. The name has been spelled Beaumont, Beaumond, Beamond, Beamont, Beamonte, Beamonde, Bellmont, Belmont, Beomont, Beumond, Bewmont, Bewmonte, Bellemont, Beumont, Beaumount, Bewmount, Bowmont, Bowmaunt and many more.

Early Notables of the Bellomonte family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Viscount Allandale; Henry de Beaumont, 4th Earl of Buchan (circa 1305-1340), a military tactician, who was made the 1st Baron Beaumont in 1309; Sir William de Beaumont, 2nd Viscount Beaumont (1438-1507), fought in several of the major battles of the Wars of the Roses, probably knighted before the Battle of Northampton; Francis Beaumont (c.1585-1616), a British playwright...
Another 65 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Bellomonte Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Bellomonte family to Ireland

Some of the Bellomonte family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Bellomonte family

Many English families emigrated to North American colonies in order to escape the political chaos in Britain at this time. Unfortunately, many English families made the trip to the New World under extremely harsh conditions. Overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the stormy Atlantic. Despite these hardships, many of the families prospered and went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the United States and Canada. Early North American immigration records have revealed a number of people bearing the name Bellomonte or a variant listed above: John Beamond who settled in Virginia in 1635; Andrew Beaumont settled in New England in 1805; Richard Beamond settled in New Jersey in 1664.



  1. Burke, John Bernard, The Roll of Battle Abbey. London: Edward Churton, 26, Holles Street, 1848, Print.
  2. The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
  3. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  4. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
  5. Worth, R.N., A History of Devonshire London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, E.G., 1895. Digital


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