Neufchatel History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
France

Etymology of Neufchatel

What does the name Neufchatel mean?

The Norman Conquest of England in 1066 added many new elements to an already vibrant culture. Among these were thousands of new names. The Neufchatel family lived in Guernsey. Their name, however, is a reference to the Bailiwick of Neufchatel-en-Dary, Normandy, the family's place of residence prior to the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. 1

Early Origins of the Neufchatel family

The surname Neufchatel was first found in Guernsey where they held a family seat from very early times and acquired the lands of Noftall. They were originally from Fief of Bully, held by Robert Mellevilla in the Bailiwick of Neufchatel-en-Dary in Normandy. In 1184 Engueran (Ingram) de Moncellis held Neufchatel according to the Norman Exchequer Rolls of 1184. They were conjecturally descended from Neufchatel. This family also held the lands of Nun Coton in Lincolnshire.

Early History of the Neufchatel family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Neufchatel research. Another 29 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Neufchatel History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Neufchatel Spelling Variations

Norman 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 Noftall, Noftle, Naftel, Nofty, Noftal and many more.

Early Notables of the Neufchatel family

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

Neufchatel migration to the United States +

Many 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 Neufchatel or a variant listed above:

Neufchatel Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Jean Neufchatel who settled in Louisiana in 1854

Sources +

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)