The name Bensloe was carried to England in the enormous movement of people that followed the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Bensloe family lived in Norfolk and Suffolk. The name is derived from an Old Norse phrase which means an area where beans were grown.
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Early Origins of the Bensloe family
The surname Bensloe was first found in Norfolk and Suffolk, where they had been granted lands by King William after the Norman Conquest in 1066. They are descended from Benzelius, Archbishop of Upsal in the Viking kingdom of Sweden. Benzelinus accompanied William Conqueror into England. There are now 28 different forms of spelling of this name. 1
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Early History of the Bensloe family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bensloe research. Another 36 words (3 lines of text) covering the year 1548 is included under the topic Early Bensloe History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
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Bensloe Spelling Variations
Endless spelling variations are a prevailing characteristic of Norman surnames. Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules, and the introduction of Norman French added an unfamiliar ingredient to the English linguistic stew. French and Latin, the languages of the court, also influenced spellings. Finally, Medieval scribes generally spelled words according to how they sounded, so one person was often referred to by different spellings in different documents. The name has been spelled Bensley, Bensely, Benseley, Benesle, Bensle, Benslie, Benslee, Benisly, Benslow, Beanslie, Binslie and many more.
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Early Notables of the Bensloe family
Another 37 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Bensloe Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
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Migration of the Bensloe family
To escape the political and religious persecution within England at the time, many English families left for the various British colonies abroad. The voyage was extremely difficult, though, and the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving. But for those who made it, the trip was most often worth it. Many of the families who arrived went on to make valuable contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families reveals a number of immigrants bearing the name Bensloe or a variant listed above: Clement Bensley who settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1813; John Bensle settled in Philadelphia in 1751.
England
