Bosville History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The surname Bosville was first found in Yorkshire where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor. After the Battle of Hastings in 1066, William, Duke of Normandy, having prevailed over King Harold, granted most of Britain to his many victorious Barons. It was not uncommon to find a Baron, or a Bishop, with 60 or more Lordships scattered throughout the country. These he gave to his sons, nephews and other junior lines of his family and they became known as under-tenants. They adopted the Norman system of surnames which identified the under-tenant with his holdings so as to distinguish him from the senior stem of the family. After many rebellious wars between his Barons, Duke William, commissioned a census of all England to determine in 1086, settling once and for all, who held which land. He called the census the Domesday Book, 1 indicating that those holders registered would hold the land until the end of time. Hence, conjecturally, the surname is descended from the tenant of the lands of Breythwell, Chevett, Conisborough, Gunthwaite, Newhall, Warwmesworth and Wortley who was recorded in the Domesday Book census of 1086. It is not clear whether this family was represented at the Battle of Hastings, the name does not appear on the lists available. The name appears some time before 1100 when Hugh of Beuzevilla of Dieppe in the Seine-Inf in Normandy acquired many lordships in Yorkshire. He was a follower of the Warrens, Earls of Warwick and appears to have many holdings from that family. In Normandy their chief domain was only 3 miles from Bellencombre the Warren chief domains and very likely there was kinship. Elias of Harthill succeeded Hugh in 1159.