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![Show Contents]() Bentcliff History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 England
The name Bentcliff is of Anglo-Saxon origin and came from when the family lived in the village of Bilcliff, in the West Riding of the county of Yorkshire. The name of that place is derived from the Old English word bil, which originally referred to a sword or halberd. Early Origins of the Bentcliff familyThe surname Bentcliff was first found in Yorkshire, where one of the first records of the name was Thomas de Billeclyf who was listed there in 1308. Later, John Bilclif was listed in Yorkshire in 1617. [1] A very learned family, the Register of the University of Oxford has two early listings: Thomas Bilclif,1581; and Thomas Bilcliffe, Berkshire, 1615. [2] Early History of the Bentcliff familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bentcliff research. Another 236 words (17 lines of text) covering the years 1308, 1500, 1615, 1617, 1668, 1788, 1793, 1661 and 1663 are included under the topic Early Bentcliff History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Bentcliff Spelling VariationsIt is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Bentcliff are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. Scribes and monks in the Middle Ages spelled names they sounded, so it is common to find several variations that refer to a single person. The variations of the name Bentcliff include: Billcliffe, Bilcliffe, Billcliff, Bilcliff, Billeclyf, Bilclif and many more. Early Notables of the Bentcliff family (pre 1700)Another 32 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Bentcliff Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Bentcliff familyMany English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Bentcliff or a variant listed above: a number of settlers who arrived by the 19th century.
- Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
- Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
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