Menvill History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Early Origins of the Menvill family

The surname Menvill was first found in the counties of Durham and Northumberland.

"Milburn, a member of the Morpeth barony, was held of it by knight's service, by Robert de Meneville. In Durham, their manor house at Sledwish, near Wholton, and within a few fields of the Tees, was granted to them at an early date by the old Lords of Barnard's Castle; they also held Winston and one of them, Robert de Menevill, received from King John the hand of Agnes de Dyvelstoun (Dilston) a Northumbrian heiress. Another Robert, Sheriff of Durham in 1339, acquired the Lordship of Horden by purchase from Sir Thomas Holland in 1343." 1

Early History of the Menvill family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Menvill research. Another 123 words (9 lines of text) covering the year 1400 is included under the topic Early Menvill History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Menvill Spelling Variations

Endless spelling variations are a prevailing characteristic of Norman surnames. Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules, and the introduction of Norman French added an unfamiliar ingredient to the English linguistic stew. French and Latin, the languages of the court, also influenced spellings. Finally, Medieval scribes generally spelled words according to how they sounded, so one person was often referred to by different spellings in different documents. The name has been spelled Menvile, Menville, Menvill and others.

Early Notables of the Menvill family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

Nenyan Menvill, one time holder of Sledwish and other estates

Migration of the Menvill family

To escape the political and religious persecution within England at the time, many English families left for the various British colonies abroad. The voyage was extremely difficult, though, and the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving. But for those who made it, the trip was most often worth it. Many of the families who arrived went on to make valuable contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families reveals a number of immigrants bearing the name Menvill or a variant listed above:

Citations +

Cleveland, Dutchess of The Battle Abbey Roll with some Account of the Norman Lineages. London: John Murray, Abermarle Street, 1889. Print. Volume 2 of 3