Duncalfe History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Etymology of Duncalfe

What does the name Duncalfe mean?

The name Duncalfe came to England with the ancestors of the Duncalfe family in the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Duncalfe family lived in Yorkshire. One reference suggests that the name could be derived from the local at the dun-croft but this is only speculation.

Early Origins of the Duncalfe family

The surname Duncalfe was first found in Yorkshire where they held a family seat from very ancient times, where conjecturally this family is descended on the male side from Drogo de Beuvriere, a Norman knight, who held the village of Ottringham from the Archbishop of York. Drogo was originally granted the castle of Skipsey and was said to have married a kinswoman of William the Conqueror who he killed in 1086, either by accident or design. He fled the country leaving only his descendants on estates in Yorkshire.

Early History of the Duncalfe family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Duncalfe research. Another 57 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Duncalfe History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Duncalfe 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 Duncalfe, Duncalf and others.

Early Notables of the Duncalfe family

Duncalfe of Cheshire

Duncalfe migration to the United States +

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 Duncalfe or a variant listed above:

Duncalfe Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

William Duncalfe who settled in Virginia in 1739

Duncalfe Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

John B. Duncalfe, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1868