Bulson History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

• Origins Available:
• England

Early Origins of the Bulson family

The surname Bulson was first found in Cambridgeshire at Balsham, a rural village and civil parish which dates back to Saxon times when it was known as Bellesham in 974. In 1015, Balsham was destroyed by Viking raiders and a marker on the village green commemorates the sole survivor of the attack who escaped by hiding in the parish church. By the Domesday Book of 1086, the village was known as Belesham ^[1] and literally meant "homestead or village of a man called Baelli," from the Old English personal name + "ham." ^[2] At that time, Balsham was a small village with a Mill.

Hugh de Balsham (died 1286), a Benedictine monk was Bishop of Ely and founder of Peter-house College, Cambridge. He was born and is interred here. A brass in the church at Balsham, Cambridgeshire of the bishop can still be seen today. ^[3]

Hence, conjecturally, the surname is descended from the tenant of the lands of Balsham who was a Norman noble named Hardwin of Scales who held his lands from the Abbot of Ely who was recorded in the Domesday Book.

Important Dates for the Bulson family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bulson research. Another 68 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1260, 1317, 1523 and 1642 are included under the topic Early Bulson History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bulson Spelling Variations

Before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Sound was what guided spelling in the Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Bulson family name include Balsom, Balsam, Balsham, Balson, Ballsom, Ballsam and many more.

Early Notables of the Bulson family (pre 1700)

More information is included under the topic Early Bulson Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bulson migration to the United States

To escape the political and religious chaos of this era, thousands of English families began to migrate to the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. The passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe; however, those who made the voyage safely were encountered opportunities that were not available to them in their homeland. Many of the families that reached the New World at this time went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations of the United States and Canada. Research into various historical records has revealed some of first members of the Bulson family to immigrate North America:

Bulson Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

• Thomas Bulson, aged 31, who immigrated to America, in 1894

Bulson Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

• Mrs. A. E. Bulson, aged 37, who landed in America, in 1906
• Dr. A. E. Bulson, aged 39, who settled in America, in 1906
• Eugene Bulson, aged 12, who landed in America, in 1906
• Miss Geraldine Bulson, aged 9, who settled in America, in 1906
• Miss Margaret Bulson, who immigrated to the United States, in 1909
• ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Bulson migration to Canada

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Bulson Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

• Mr. Cornelius Bulson U.E. who settled in Williamsburg [South Dundas], Ontario c. 1783 ^[4]
• Cornelius Bulson, who settled in Canada in 1796

Contemporary Notables of the name Bulson (post 1700)

• Morris L. Bulson, American Democrat politician, Candidate for New York State Assembly from Rensselaer County 2nd District, 1934 ^[5]

Citations

1. ^ Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
2. ^ Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
3. ^ Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
4. ^ Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
5. ^ The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 3) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html