Bumbay History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

When the ancestors of the Bumbay family emigrated to England following the Norman Conquest in 1066 they brought their family name with them. They lived in Cheshire, where they were located since the early Middle Ages. The family name is derived from the area Bunbury, near Nantwich in this shire. The name Bunbury derives from the Old English personal name Buna, and the burh, which means "fortress."

Early Origins of the Bumbay family

The surname Bumbay was first found in Cheshire at Bunbury, a village and civil parish now in the unitary authority of Cheshire East. The village dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086 where it was first listed as Boleberie 1 and literally meant "stronghold of a man called Buna," from the Old English personal name + "burh." 2

The family of "great antiquity, descended from Henry de Boneberi, in the time of Stephen, a younger brother of the House of St. Pierre in Normandy. William de Boneberi, son of Henry, was Lord of Beneberi in the reign of Richard I." 3 As a cadet of the Norman house of St. Pierre who accompanied Hugh Lupus, Earl of Chester, at the Conquest, they obtained from him the manor of Bunbury. The family has held estates in the area for many centuries. By example, the extra-parochial liberty Great Stanney in Cheshire was held by the family since ancient times. " The ancient mansion here of the family of Bunbury, called Rake Hall, has been repaired by its present owner, Sir Henry Bunbury, Bart.; several farm-buildings have been erected, and the roads much improved." 4

Nearby, Little Stanney was also property of Sir Henry Bunbury. A most benevolent family, Sir Thomas Bunbury, founded a free school with £5 per annum.

Early History of the Bumbay family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bumbay research. Another 105 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1657, 1673, 1674, 1676, 1682, 1687, 1733, 1781, 1787, 1797, 1802, 1822 and 1851 are included under the topic Early Bumbay History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bumbay Spelling Variations

The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries. For that reason, spelling variations are common among many Anglo-Norman names. The shape of the English language was frequently changed with the introduction of elements of Norman French, Latin, and other European languages; even the spelling of literate people's names were subsequently modified. Bumbay has been recorded under many different variations, including Bunbury, Baunbury, Bunby, Bunbry, Bunberry and others.

Early Notables of the Bumbay family

Another 45 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Bumbay Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Bumbay family to Ireland

Some of the Bumbay family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 92 words (7 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bumbay migration to the United States +

To escape the uncertainty of the political and religious uncertainty found in England, many English families boarded ships at great expense to sail for the colonies held by Britain. The passages were expensive, though, and the boats were unsafe, overcrowded, and ridden with disease. Those who were hardy and lucky enough to make the passage intact were rewarded with land, opportunity, and social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families went on to be important contributors to the young nations of Canada and the United States where they settled. Bumbays were some of the first of the immigrants to arrive in North America:

Bumbay Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

John Bumbay, who arrived in Virginia in 1724 5

The Bumbay Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Firmum in vita nihil
Motto Translation: Nothing in life is permanent.

Citations +

Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Shirley, Evelyn Philip, The Noble and Gentle Men of England; The Arms and Descents. Westminster: John Bower Nichols and Sons, 1866, Print.
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)