Gonville History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Early Origins of the Gonville family

The surname Gonville was first found in Normandy where "Gunwell, Gonville or Conteville, descended from Herluin, Lord of Conteville by his first marriage, the issue of which, Ralph de Conteville is stated by Orderic Vitalis to have had grants from the Conqueror in England. Accordingly in 1083 he appears holding lands in Somerset, his barony being held in Gloucester, and being held 1086 by his son Fitz-Ralph." 1 2

Edmund Gonvile (d. 1351), founder of Gonville Hall, Cambridge, and of Rushworth College, Norfolk, is described in the commemoration service of Gonville and Caius College as a son of Sir Nicholas Gonvile. 3

Early History of the Gonville family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Gonville research. Another 73 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1165, 1172 and 1327 are included under the topic Early Gonville History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Gonville Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Gunnels, Gunnells, Gunnild, Gunild, Gunilt, Gunnild, Gunnilt, Gunnett, Gunnet, Gonnel and many more.

Early Notables of the Gonville family

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

Migration of the Gonville family

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: the name represented in many forms and recorded from the mid 17th century in the great migration from Europe. Migrants settled in the eastern seaboard from Newfoundland, to Maine, to Virginia, the Carolinas, and to the islands..

Contemporary Notables of the name Gonville (post 1700) +

James Gonville Strangman QC (1873-1971), British barrister who spent much of his career in India., son of Sir Thomas Strangman QC
Lieutenant-General Sir Gonville Bromhead (1758-1822), 1st Baronet of Thurlby Hall, English peer and officer
Major Gonville Bromhead (1845-1892), British Army officer, Victoria Cross recipient for his actions in the defence of Rorke's Drift in January 1879 4

Citations +

The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
Gonville Bromhead. (Retrieved 2010, September 27) Gonville Bromhead. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gonville_Bromhead