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![Show Contents]() Enfeild History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 England
Enfeild is an ancient Norman name that arrived in England after the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Enfeild family lived in the county of Berkshire, England. Early Origins of the Enfeild familyThe surname Enfeild was first found in Berkshire where they were Lords of the Manor of Englefield. "This parish, which comprises 1379a. 3r. 16p., derives its name from the Saxon word Ingle, a fire or beacon light; and probably had its origin about the middle of the ninth century, when the Danes, having made themselves masters of Reading, sent out a detachment from their army to attack the Saxons, who were encamped here, and who drove them back with great loss." 1 Gilbert and Stephen, held their land here from the Norman Chief tenant, Williams FitzAnsculf c. 1086. Enfield in a parish in the union and hundred of Edmonton, Middlesex. "This place is in Domesday Book called Enefelde, denoting its situation among fields, or in the felled part of a forest." 1 Early History of the Enfeild familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Enfeild research. Another 68 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Enfeild History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Enfeild Spelling VariationsNorman surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. The frequent changes in surnames are largely due to the fact that the Old and Middle English languages lacked definite spelling rules. The introduction of Norman French to England, as well as the official court languages of Latin and French, also had pronounced influences on the spelling of surnames. Since medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, rather than adhering to any specific spelling rules, it was common to find the same individual referred to with different spellings. The name has been spelled Enfield, Emenfield, Enestfield, Enfeld, Endfield, Enefele, Inglefield and many more. Early Notables of the Enfeild familyMore information is included under the topic Early Enfeild Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Enfeild familyMany English families emigrated to North American colonies in order to escape the political chaos in Britain at this time. Unfortunately, many English families made the trip to the New World under extremely harsh conditions. Overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the stormy Atlantic. Despite these hardships, many of the families prospered and went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the United States and Canada. Early North American immigration records have revealed a number of people bearing the name Enfeild or a variant listed above: George Enfield who arrived in New Jersey in 1772.
- Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
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