Blofeld History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The name Blofeld came to England with the ancestors of the Blofeld family in the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Blofeld family lived in Norfolk, where the family has a rich history dating back many years. Their name, however, derives from their previous locality of residence, Blundeville, near Pont l'Eveque, Normandy. 1

Early Origins of the Blofeld family

The surname Blofeld was first found in Cheshire at Beeston, a township, in the parish of Bunbury, union of Nantwich, First division of the hundred of Eddisbury. "This place takes its name from a castle founded by Ranulph de Blundeville, about 1220, and which was made a royal garrison in the war between Henry III. and the confederate barons." 2 He was the son and heir of Hugh 'de Kivelioc,' Earl (palatine) of Chester, whom he succeeded in 1180. "His surname, like his father's, was derived from his birthplace, 'Blundevill' being identified by Dugdale with Oswestry. " 3

Thomas de Blundeville or Blunville (d. 1236), was Bishop of Norwich. He "was the son of Robert de Blunville of Newton; Flotman, Norfolk, and younger brother of William de Blunville, constable of Corfe Castle during the reign of King John." 3

However, most sources believe the family was originally from Norfolk as by example, "History or Norfolk" had two early entries for the family using early spellings: John de Blomevile, 1249; and William de Blundevile, 1283 while the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 had only one entry: William de Blumvile, Norfolk 1273. 4

Another source notes: "Bloomfield, a village in Worcestershire, and probably other localities. Norfolk has long been the greatest habitat of the name. " 5

"Bailiffs of Ipswich in the reigns of Edward IV., Henry VII., and Charles II., bore the name of Blomfield. " 6

Early History of the Blofeld family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Blofeld research. Another 144 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1203, 1524, 1525, 1574, 1576, 1638, 1642, 1653, 1768, 1825 and 1846 are included under the topic Early Blofeld History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Blofeld Spelling Variations

Multitudes of spelling variations are a hallmark of Anglo Norman names. Most of these names evolved in the 11th and 12th century, in the time after the Normans introduced their own Norman French language into a country where Old and Middle English had no spelling rules and the languages of the court were French and Latin. To make matters worse, medieval scribes spelled words according to sound, so names frequently appeared differently in the various documents in which they were recorded. The name was spelled Bloomefield, Blundeville, Blomfield, Blumfield, Blundville and many more.

Early Notables of the Blofeld family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Miles Blomefield (1525-1574?), alchemist, who recorded some particulars of his birth and parentage in a quaint note written by himself in a volume which is preserved in the library of St. John's College, Cambridge, and which contains a unique copy of 'the boke called the Informacyon for pylgrymes vnto the holy lande,' printed by Wynkyn de Worde in 1524: 'I...
Another 68 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Blofeld Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Blofeld family to Ireland

Some of the Blofeld family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 51 words (4 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 Blofeld family

Because of this political and religious unrest within English society, many people decided to immigrate to the colonies. Families left for Ireland, North America, and Australia in enormous numbers, traveling at high cost in extremely inhospitable conditions. The New World in particular was a desirable destination, but the long voyage caused many to arrive sick and starving. Those who made it, though, were welcomed by opportunities far greater than they had known at home in England. Many of these families went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Blofeld or a variant listed above: James Bloomfield who settled in Boston, Massachusetts in 1620; Sarah Bloomfield settled in New England in 1634; Noah Bloomfield settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1796.

Citations +

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)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.