Bousfield 

 

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The information on this page was researched by others and is displayed here as possible factual information on the background of the Bousfield name. As the name is an old one and there is no one definite explaination for the names formation I give you what I have for you to take as you wish. I am sure there are facts in all of these accounts, but I leave it up to you to imagine the most likely.  Ron Bousfield

"One of the oldest Norman surnames, and its history is closely interwoven into the prosaic fabric which is a colorful backdrop to the ancient chronicles of England. The first record of the name Bousfield was found in Cumberland, where they had been granted land by King William (William the Conqueror) after the Norman Conquest (Battle of Hastings) in 1066.

Early development of the name found different spellings in the archives researched, all linked to a common root, usually one of the Norman nobles at the Battle of Hastings. Although the name Bousfield occurred in many references, from time to time, the surname was also officially spelt Bousfield, Bousville, Bousefield, Bouseville."

"The family name Bousfield is believed to be descended originally from the Norman race, frequently but mistakenly assumed to be French in origin. They were more accurately of Viking origin. The Vikings landed in the Orkneys and Northern Scotland about the year 870 A.D., under their King, Stirgud the Stout. Thorfinn Rollo, his descendant, scion of an explorer clan who may well have visited North America, landed in northern France about the year 940 A.D. The French King, Charles the Simple, after Rollo laid siege to Paris, finally conceded defeat and granted northern France to Rollo. Rollo became the first Duke of Normandy, the territory of the north men. Rollo married Charles' daughter and became a convert to Christianity. Descended from Rollo was Duke William of Normandy who invaded England in 1066 and was victorious over the Saxon King Harold of Hastings in 1066 A.D. William claimed the throne of England and installed his relatives and nobles as his advisors.

Duke William granted his Norman nobles many of the estates of the vanquished Saxons, particularly in the south of England, for their assistance at the Battle of Hastings. Amongst these Normans a noble is believed to be our ancestor.

"the researchers found that the first evidence of your surname was found in Cumberland where they had acquired a manor and estates near Coniston in that county. They were originally from Bouseville near Pavilly in Normandy and acquired the grant of estates from Duke William for their assistance at the Battle of Hastings in 1066. By the 16th century they had branched to Yorkshire and London where they also had estates. Their family seat was at Scarsykes. Notable amongst the family at this time was Bousfield of Scarsykes."

"It originated in northern England, principally in Westmoreland with a concentration at Ravenstonedale in that county. About a mile north-east of Orton, the parish adjoining Ravenstonedale, is found the hamlet Bousfield, first mentioned in 1342 in the records of Furness Abbey. This place name probably exercised a strong influence on the formation of the surname which was often met with in the north.

Descendants of the original northern bearers of the name are scattered throughout the world. Bousfields of Western Ontario, Canada spring from families of that name near Bowes in Yorkshire. Four lines with heraldic traditions emerge on the pages of history. The estate of Upton in the West Riding of Yorkshire was purchased in the 17th century by the Busfeilds who later adopted the name Ferrand. William Busfield Ferrand, MP, was one of Disraeli's Young England group in Parliament during the 1840's.

The other three families appear to have originated at Ravenstonedale. One settled in Ireland during the Commonwealth, established by Rev. Joseph Bousfield a 19th chaplain to Cromwell's forces, but became extinct early in the 19th century. Among its members were Rev. Thomas Bowsfield, principal of St. Edmond Hall, Oxford, 1581-1600 ( he built part of the existing structure) and Col. Benjamin Bousfield, Sheriff of Cork, 1771, a leading figure in the Irish Volunteer Movement.

Although of Ravenstonedale derivation the second family is associated with the County of Nottingham. Its fortunes were founded by Major William Bousfield of the Royal Train of Artillery, said (in his obituary notice Gentleman's Magazine, 1736) to have fired the village of Blenheim at that famous battle.

Early these Bousfields separated into two branches, Rt. Rev. Henry Brougham Bousfield, founder of the Anglican See of Pretoria, South Africa, belonged to the younger. Sailing in 1878 from England to his diocese the bishop noticed in the sky a constellation resembling a cross lying on its side, and was encouraged to find by the time of his arrival that the cross appeared upright.

Modern representatives are the Gambier-Bousfields of New York, formerly of Toronto. The elder line with descendants in Montreal had an heraldic tradition (legalized in 1911) linking it with the third family.

These Bousfields were established at Ravenstonedale which two members left for London in the second half of the 18th century where they amassed considerable fortunes in the burgeoning industrialism. The younger, Robert Bousfield according to the Vaizey Family Papers supplied the cloth in which the Household Cavalry rode at Waterloo, and irreverent but persistent rumor has it to Emperor Napoleon's Guard as well!

Sir William Bousfield prominent educationalist, of the Bousfield School, London (where the pupils wear his crest as cap badge) was the last of the elder line.

Another, William Henry Bousfield, came to Canada in 1870 as one of that traditional group of improvident gentry known as "remittance men". His son Rev. George Bousfield took up permanent residence in 1874 and became Anglican Rector of Pembroke, Ontario.

The arms of this family though used for over two centuries were unregistered. In derivation they show the influence and point to a relationship with two ancient Westmoreland families named Dalston and Ewbank. They were finally legalized by Cmdr. Robin Bousfield, R.N., a distinguished naval officer, who was script advisor to the award -winning TV series The Life and Times of Lord Mountbatten, which was shown on CFTO Toronto.

Selina Bousfield of this line was the mother of Jean, Lady Conan Doyle, second wife of the originator of Sherlock Holmes. Thus the Bousfield arms appear in the Armory of the Chateau de Lucens, Switzerland, 10th century home of Adrian Conan Doyle and memorial museum to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

"The name Bousfield is quite ancient. There are several legends, one, that two brothers by the name of De Bosville came over with William the Conqueror, one remained in the north and the other went south to London. In time the name became anglicized to Bousfield."