Meurdracs, the Montagues and the Grenvilles. A familiar old-time
name in Kentucky that has always appealed to lovers and writers of
romance--notably to Charles Fenno Hoffman and William Gilmore Simms.
"This illustrious name," says Lower, "is found in many countries
of Europe; in Scotland, as Campbell; in England, as Fairfield; in
Germany, as Schönau; and in Italy as Campobello." It was introduced
into England at the Norman Conquest by Hugh de Belchamp, or Beauchamp,
or de Bello Campo. Beauchamp is pronounced _Beecham_ in England.
_Beaufoy_, from Beaufay, near Alençon, Normandy, 1180. John de
Beaufoy, England, 1320.
_Beaumont_, or Bayard. Two lines in England. One of the Beaumonts held
the Castle of St. Luzanne for two years against William the Conqueror.
_Beaver_, for Bever.
_Beavill_, or Beville, from Beaville, near Caen, England, 1086
(Domesday).
_Beavis_, armorially identified with Beaufiz, England, 1316.
_Becket_, or Beckett. In 1180, Malger Bechet, Rouen, John and William
Beket or Bekeit, 1198. _Ibid._ Thomas Beket's father was of Caen.
Ralph de Beket, England, 1272; hence Thomas, the famous Archbishop of
Canterbury.
_Becks_, for Beck. Vide Beach.
_Beckwith_, adopted in lieu of the original Norman name of Malbisse
(Lower).
_Bedding_, or Bedin. Normandy, 1196; England, 1272.
_Bedell_, from the Suffolk gens (Thirteenth Century).
_Beech_, a form of Beach.
_Beecham_, a form of Beauchamp.
_Beecher_, armorially identified with Beach, of which it is a
corruption.
_Beeden._ Vide Beadon.
_Beek_, armorially identified with Beck or Bec.
_Beeman_, for Beaman.
_Beeman_, for Beaumont (Lower).
_Beerill_, for Barrell.
_Beeson_, for Beisin, Normandy.
_Beeton_, for Beaton.
_Beever_, for Beevor.
_Beevor._ Berenger de Belver, or Bevor.
_Belcher._ Vide Belshes, England, 1272.
_Bell_, from Le Bel, a common surname in Normandy.
_Bellaers_, for Beller, from Bellieres, near Alençon. Normandy, 1180.
Ralph Beler, 1325.
_Bellairs._ Vide Bellaers.
_Bellamy_, or Bellameys, from Belmeys or Beaumitz. Vide Beamiss.
_Bellany_, from Bellannay, Normandy.
_Bellard._ Beald heard (strong). An ancient baptismal name, Balard
(The Hundred Rolls).
_Bellas_, a form of Bellowes.
_Bellchamber_, for Bellencombre Castle, near Dieppe. England, 1272.
_Bellet._ Belet, surname in Normandy, 1180; England, 1165. The Bellets
were hereditary butlers to the King.
_Bellew_, from Belleau or Bella Aqua, Normandy, 1180. The Lords Bellew
of Ireland are of this family.
_Belling._ A northern clan, noble and ancient.
_Bellis_, armorially identified with Bellew of Cheshire.
_Bellowes_, armorially identified with Bellew.
_Bellville_, Belleville, or Bellavilla, near Dieppe, Normandy.
_Belshes_, a corruption of Bellassidge.
_Belward_, a form of Belwar, Belver, or Belvoir. See Beevor.
_Bemes_, for Beamis.
_Bence._ Robert and William Bence, Normandy, 1180; England, 1272.
_Bene._ Hubert de Bene, Normandy, 1180; England, 1298.
_Benivell_, for Beneville, from Beneville, near Havre, Normandy, 1180;
William de Bendeville, England, Twelfth Century.
_Benn_, for Bene.
_Bennet_, or Beneyt, Normandy, 1180.
_Bennett._ Beneyt, or Benedictus, a Norman family. Bennets, Earls of
Arlington and Tankerville.
_Berey_, for Barrey or Barry.
_Beringer_, Normandy, 1195.
_Berks_, for Perks or Parks.
_Bernard._ Common name in Normandy, 1180; England, 1200.
_Bernes_, from Bernes, near Beauvais, 1167; England, 1272.
_Berney_, from Berney, Norfolk; Bernai, near Lisieux.
_Bernwell_, or Barnwall, 1086 (Domesday).
_Berrell_, for Barrell.
_Berrett_, for Barrett.
_Berry_, armorially identified with Barry.
_Bertie_, a form of Bertin which occurs in Battle Abbey Roll,
Normandy, 1195; 1433, William Bertyn, one of the Kentish gentry.
_Bertin._ Vide Bertie.
_Bertram._ An illustrious Norman name. Vide Milford.
_Berwell._ Vide Barwell.
_Best._ An abbreviation of Bessett.
_Bever_, or Beever, armorially identified with Belvoir or Bovor of
Leicestershire.
_Beverel._ Richard de Beverel, Normandy, 1180.
_Bevington._ Vide Bovington.
_Beville._ Vide Beavill.
_Bevir_, for Bever.
_Bevis_, Beavis.
_Bevis_, armorially identified with Beaufais, or Beauvais. Beauvays,
Yorkshire, 1313.
_Bew_, for Bews.
_Bewett_, armorially identified with Bluett, also Blewitt.
_Bewley_, for Beaulieu.
_Bews_, for Bayeux, Bayouse, Beyouse, Bews.
_Bewsay_, for Bussey, or De Busci.
_Bewshea_, for Bewsay.
_Bick_, a form of Bec.
_Biddle_, for Bidell. Vide Beadle.
_Bidon_, for Bidun. Vide Beadon.
_Biggers._ Durand le Bigre, Normandy, 1180. Ranulph de Bigarz, 1198.
_Bigot._ Richard le Bigot, Normandy, 1180; Vide Wiggett.
_Biles_, a form of Byles.
_Bill_, a form of Boyle, armorially identified with Byle or Byles.
_Billes._ Vide Bill.
_Billett._ Bellet.
_Bing._ Byng, Binge.
_Bingham_, or De Buisle, from Builly, near Neuchatel (often supposed
to be of Saxon origin). John de Bingham, named from his "lordship,"
Bingham, in Bucks. One of the family named the heiress of Turberville.
_Birbeck_, from Brabant. Henry de Birbecka, 1134.
_Birmingham_, or Paynel. Vide Paynel.
_Biron._ Vide Byron.
_Birt._ Vide Burt.
_Bishop._ Radulphus Episcopus, Normandy, 1180; Sir John Bischopp,
England, 1315.
_Bisse_, armorially identified with Bissett.
_Bissell_, armorially identified with Bissett. Ralph and Henry Biset,
Normandy, 1180. Sir John Byset, England, 1300.
_Black._ Odo and Robert Niger occur in Normandy, 1180. Robertus Niger
held lands in Kent, 1086 (Domesday).
_Blackett._ An abbreviation of Blanchett.
_Blackstone_, or Le Breton. Blackstone, Devon, was held 1286 by Alured
le Breton. In Thirteenth Century William Blackstone held lands at
Stones of the Honour of Wallingford.
_Blagrave_, or Le Breton. Alicia de Blackgrave, Thirteenth Century.
The name Le Breton indicates a Breton origin.
_Blake._ Admiral Robert, the great naval commander of Cromwell, was of
Somerset, in which county Walter Blache occurs, 1273.
_Blakey._ The French pronunciation of Blaket. Vide Bleckett.
_Blanch._ William Blanc and Robert and John Blanche occur in Normandy,
1180. Henry Blanche, Oxford, 1272.
_Blanchard._ Ralph and William Blanchart were of Normandy, 1180.
Gilbert and William Blanchard had estates in Lincoln. This fine old
Norman family is readily traceable from Normandy to England, and
from England to America. Colonel Robert Blanchard, with his tall,
handsome figure and jocund face, would have thrown no discredit on his
racial descent in any country, community, or social circle. His son,
William Lytle Blanchard, an accomplished gentleman, was an officer
in the Confederate service. Before the opening of the Civil War he
had been an associate of Halliday (and other Anglo-Normans) in the
establishment of the great overland route. William Lytle Blanchard was
a first cousin of General William Haynes Lytle, of Cincinnati. The
Blanchards are connected with the Rowans, Bollings, Lytles, Fosters,
Stoths, and other distinguished families.
_Blancherville_, from the forest of B., Normandy. The family had
branches in Ireland.
_Blanchet._ Robert and Ralph Blanchet.
_Blanquet_, or Blanket, Normandy, 1180. In England Blanchet or Blaket.
_Blashfield._ Anglicised form of Blancheville.
_Blaxton_, for Blackstone.
_Blay_, for Bleay.
_Bleakey_, for Blakey.
_Bleay._ De Ble, Normandy, 1180. De Blee, Stafford, 1180.
_Blennerhasset_, or De Tillial, from Tilliol, near Rouen. Richard de
Tilliol, lord of Blennerhasset, Cumberland, temp. Henry I. The younger
branches bore the name of Blennerhasset. A name to which the "Burr
Expedition" gave a peculiar interest in Kentucky.
_Blessett_, for Blissett.
_Blews_, a form of Blew or Blue. Etard de Blew occurs in Kent, 1199,
and Robert de Bloi in Essex. The name is a form of Bloi, Bloin, or
Blohin of Bretagne, often written Blue. Vide Bligh and Blue.
_Bley_, for Bleay.
_Bligh_, for De Bloin, from Bretagne. Vide Darnley.
_Blindell_, for Blundell.
_Blizard_, Blizart. Perhaps from Blesum, Blois, meaning a native of
Blois. The name is evidently foreign. Blizzard, Blizard, Blezard,
Blizart, Blissett. Even the best authorities have differed as to the
origin of this name. One English writer says: "Perhaps it is from
Blesum, Blois, meaning a native of Blois" (Blizzard, which is Norman,
is an analogous form). Another and later English authority says:
"Blizard, Blezard, from the Danish Blichert, a strong sword player." A
correspondent of the New York Tribune, July 19, 1891, says: "The old
English word blizzard, which describes so picturesquely the English
snow-blast, is spoken of as an 'Americanism.' Even such philologists
and lexicographers as Murray treat the word as a recent 'Americanism.'
So far from its being American in origin, it was not till within
the last thirty years (according to Bartlett and other American
philologists) that the word was ever heard in the Eastern States,
and in the Western a 'blizzard' meant a knock-down blow--not from a
snow-blast, but in an argument."
[Illustration: COLONEL THOMAS T. HAWKINS.]
In reality, Blizzard is an old English surname, and is doubtless of
Norman origin. In April, 1889, the writer of this note conversed with
a Federal soldier, whose full name was Stephen Decatur Blizzard. He
was of Anglo-Virginian stock; he was a soldier in the Civil War, and
his name may still be found on the National Pension Rolls of that
date. His postal address in 1889 was "Quincy, Lewis County, Kentucky."
Possibly the "snow-blast" took its name from some windy Anglo-Norman
disputant, who wielded the sword of the spirit and dealt in apostolic
blows and knocks.
The word "blizzard" does not appear in Worcester's dictionary, edition
1860. It is evidently of Scandinavian origin (Danish or Norman).
_Blockey._ The French pronunciation of Bloquet or Ploquet. Vide Denman.
_Blomefield._ Vide Bloomfield. Blomfield, bishop of London.
_Bloomfield_, armorially identified with Blomville from the lordship
so named near Caen and Toques. Thomas de Blumville had custody of the
estates of Earl Bigod in Suffolk.
_Blossett._ The Blossetts of Normandy were barons of Beneval and
Vidames.
_Blount._ Le Blund, or Blundus, Normandy, 1180. Frequent notices of
the name, Twelfth Century, in Essex.
_Blovice_, for Blois, or Blesum, France. Thomas Blois, living at
Norton, Suffolk, 1470, was ancestor of the baronets Blois.
_Blow_, for Blue or Bloy. Vide Bligh.
_Blue_, Blew or Blews. Etard de Bleu occurs in Kent, 1179. The name
was a form of Bloi (France). The original Norman form was Le Bleu.
During the Civil War there came before one of our Kentucky courts
a case in which there was a very interesting introduction of names
that have been long traditionally associated--Black and Blue; the
former the name of a great criminal lawyer (Jeremiah S. Black), and
the latter the name of his client, Blew or Blue, the perpetrator
of an atrocious crime. The case showed that the criminal was sadly
"off" on color. He had killed an entire family of blacks; but was
finally acquitted by the ingenuity and perseverance of his great
"Scandinavian" lawyer.
_Black_, Blake, Bleek, Bleikr (Norse). Admiral Blake was Warden of the
Cinque Ports, 1651. Victor Blue, an officer in the American service,
won great distinction during the Spanish-American War.
_Bluett._ In 1084, Bluet, Normandy; Buqueville le Blouette, the family
seat. Bluet, long a name of eminence in the West of England.
_Blundafield_, for Blindville. Vide Blomfield.
_Blundell._ Vide Blunden.
_Blunt._ Le Blount, Normandy, 1180. Hence baronets Blunt.
_Bly_, for Bloi. Vide Bligh.
_Boag_, for Bogne.
_Boase_, for Bowes. (Vide Lower.)
_Boat_, from Buat. The Castle of Buat, near Falaise. Sexus de Bue,
Surry, 1180. Vide Bowett.
_Boax_, for Boase.
_Bobart_, N. Popart, Normandy, 1180.
_Bockerfield_, from Bocherville or Bucheville, Normandy.
_Bockett._ Originally Bouquet, Normandy, 1198.
_Bodel_, for Budell.
_Bodelly_, for Botelly, or Batelly. Vide Battey.
_Bodger._ Boschier, Normandy, 1180. Le Boghier, England, 1272.
_Body._ Norse. Diminutive of Bodvarr (wary in battle). Bodi, Bodin,
Bot. French Bodé, Norman-French Bot. (1195.)
_Boffay_, from Beaufay, near Alençon, Normandy. Boffei, Normandy,
1195. Sometimes Bophay.
_Boggis._ William de Bogis, 1180, Normandy.
_Boggs._ Vide Boggis.
_Bogne_, for Boges or Boggis.
_Bois_, from Normandy, several families, viz.: (1) De Bois Armand,
hereditary servants of the Counts of Breteuil, sires of Poilly.
Flourished in Leicester.
(2) De Bois-Guillauman, of the bailifry of Caux, seated in Essex, 1086.
(3) DeBois. Herbert, baron of Halberton, Devon; Hugo de Bosco, 1083,
England.
(4) De Bois. Robert or Roard, Bucks, 1086.
(5) De Bois. Barony Brecknock, 1088, named after him Trebois.
_Bole_, or Boels.
_Boles_, a form of Boels. Vide Boyle.
_Boleyn._ Queen Anna Boleyn was great-granddaughter of Sir Geoffrey
Boleyn, Lord Mayor of London, temp. Henry VI. The family had formerly
been of great consequence. There were two branches of it in England.
William de Bolein held one fee in York and one in Lincoln. In the
preceding generation Easton and Simon de Bologne, brothers of Pharamus
de B., are mentioned in a charter of the latter. The familiar
pronunciation is "Bullen."
_Bolland._ Richard de la Boillante, Normandy, 1198.
_Bollen_, armorially identified with Boleyn.
_Bolleng_, for Boulogne, or Boleyne.
_Bollowe_, for Bellewe or Bellew.
_Bolster_, for Bolster or Balistar. Vide Alabaster or Arbalister
(Norman), a general of crossbowmen.
_Bolt_, from Bolt, or Bout, near Bayeux. Tascelinus de Boalt,
Normandy, 1180. Reginald and Richard Bolt, Oxford, 1272. "Ben Bolt" at
all times and everywhere. Composed by an American; cosmopolitanized by
an Englishman. An "Anglo-Norman" song.
_Bolten-Nelson._ From the Boltons of Suffolk descend the Earls Nelson,
who obtained their title as the nearest heirs in blood of the renowned
Nelson.
_Bompas_, from Bonpas near Perpignan; a Visigoth family.
_Bonamy._ Radulphus de Bono-Amico, Burgundy, 1180. Robert and William
Bon Ami, 1198.
_Bone_, armorially identified with Bohun of Midhurst, or De Falgeres.
Vide Foulger.
_Bonell_, or Bunel, Lords of Tissey, near Caen (Des Bois).
_Boner._ Bartholomew Bonaire.
_Bonest_, from Banaste, or Banastre. Vide Bannister.
_Boney_, for Bonney.
_Bonfield_, for Bonville, from the Castle of Bouneville, Bondeville,
Normandy.
_Bonham._ Humphrey and William Bonhomme, Cambridge, 1272.
_Bonhote_, or Bounot, a form of Bonnett, with which it is armorially
identified.
_Bonner._ Norman-French. Bounaire (courteous).
_Bonnett._ Roger Bonitus, Sussex, 1075. Family seat near Alençon. The
name occurs in Battle Abbey Roll.
_Bonney._ Nicholas and Richard Bonie occur in Normandy, 1189. Agnes
and Alicia Bonye, Oxfordshire, 1092.
_Bonnivelle_, for Bonville. Vide Bonfield.
_Bonom_, for Bonham.
_Bonus_, armorially identified with Bonest.
_Boodle_, for Budell. Not familiar as a "surname" in Kentucky.
_Boog_, for Bogue.
_Booker._ Walter Bochier, Normandy, 1180. The name in England is
armorially identified with Borcher. In Kentucky, the Bookers are an
old and prominent family. A Mayor of Louisville was (maternally) of
the Booker blood.
_Boole_, or Boyle. Buelles or Buels occurs in Normandy, 1195.
_Boolen_, for Bullen, or Boleyn.
_Bools._ Vide Boule.
_Boon_, or Boone, armorially identified with Bohun. The Norman family
of that name descended from Humphrey de Bohun, who accompanied
the Conqueror and was ancestor of the Bohuns, Earls of Hereford,
Constables of England.
_Booser_, for Bowser.
_Boosey._ Alexander de la Buzeia, Normandy, 1180. Ralph Buse, England,
1194. "Boozy" in Kentucky.
_Boot._ The fief of Hugo Boot is mentioned in Normandy. "Perhaps a
trader's name"--says Lower.
_Boothby._ A younger branch of the Barons de Tateshall, 1086
(Domesday).
_Borne._ Walter le Borne, Normandy, 1180.
_Borough_, or De Burgh, otherwise Tusard, which is the original Norman
name.
_Borrell_, armorially identified with Burrell.
_Borrow_, armorially identified with Borough and Burgh.
_Bose_, for Boss.
_Boshell_, for Bushell.
_Bosher_, a form of Bourchier (Lower).
_Bosquet._ Vide Bockett.
_Boss._ Bos or Bose occurs in Normandy, 1180; in Bucks, 1194. The
original "boss," in the modern sense (overseer, manager), was
doubtless a burly, bull-necked Norman. It is noteworthy that "Boodle"
is from the same source.
_Bossey._ Vide Boosey.
_Bossey._ Bussey.
_Bostel_, for Postel. Ralph Postel, Normandy, 1180.
_Bostfield_, for Bosville.
_Bosville._ Bosville, near Candebec, Normandy.
_Boswell_, armorially identified with Bosville. Probably in England
from the time of the Conquest. The family emigrated from England to
Scotland in the reign of David I. The change from "ville" to "well" as
a termination is also seen in the alteration of Rooseville to Roswell,
LaVille to Larwill, etc.
_Boterill._ Geoffry Boterel occurs in a Beaton charter, 1081.
_Botevyle_, from Bouteville, near Carenton, Normandy. The name occurs
in Battle Abbey Roll. Butterfield probably a form of this old surname.
_Bott._ William Bott occurs in Normandy, 1195. Walter Bott in
Oxfordshire, 1189. The writer has seen the names William and Elizabeth
Bott in old Warwickshire records, and in an old prayer-book, temp.
George III (Virginian families); the name may, also, be seen to-day
(Botts, not Bott) upon tombs in old graveyards in Eastern Kentucky.
The literal suffix "s" to such names as Bott, Hay, etc., is said to be
an Americanism.
_Bottin._ William Bottin, Normandy, 1180. Thomas Buting or Boting.
_Botting_, for Bottin.
_Bottle._ Roger Botel, Normandy, 1195.
_Bottrell_, or Botterel, or De Botereaux, from Bottereaux, near
Evreux. England, Twelfth Century.
_Bouche_, from Buces, now Bucels, near Caen. De Bueis, Normandy, 1180.
De Buche, Surrey, 1199. Roger Buche, Norfolk.
_Bouchett_, a form of Bockett.
_Bouffler_, from Bouflers, near Abbeville. James Beaufleur (or
Beauflour), collector Port of India, 1322.
_Boughey_, armorially identified with Bowett. The Baronets Boughey are
maternally descended from Fletcher.
_Boughton_, or Boveton, for Boventon. Vide Boynton. Baronets de
Boveton were of county Warwick, Fourteenth Century.
_Boulder_, from Baudre, near St. Lo in the Cotentin. Walter Bulder,
York, 1272.
_Boully._ Vide Bulley.
_Boult_, armorially identified with Bolt.
_Boun_ (or "Boum"), armorially identified with Bohun of Midhurst. Vide
Boone.
_Bound._ The same as Bowne (Lower).
_Boundy_, from Bondy, near St. Denis, Isle of France.
_Bour_, armorially identified with Boun or Bohun. Vide Boone.
_Bourchier_, a form of Bousser, or Boursieres, Burgundy. John De
Busser was a justice in Essex and Hertford, 1317.
_Bourdon._ Geoffrey Bordon and others in Normandy 1180. Reginald and
Roger Bordon in Gloucester, 1199.
_Bourke_, for Burke or Burgh. The Earls of Mayo are of this name.
_Bourlet_, or Borlet. Vide Barlett.
_Bourner_ or Barner, a form of Berner or Berners.
_Bousfield_, from Bousville or Bouville, near Ravilly, Normandy.
Walter Andrew, Serlo de Buesvilla, or Buevilla, Normandy, 1180. In
1244 William de Boevill did homage for his lands in the bailifry of
Newcastle-under-Lyme.
_Bousher_, armorially identified with Bourchier.
_Boutcher_, for Boucher.
_Boutell._ Vide Bulteel and Bottle.
_Boutroy._ John and Roger Boteri, Normandy, 1180. William Buteri, or
Butery in England.
_Bouts._ Vide Boot.
_Bouvier._ Hugo Bovier and John Bovier of Normandy, 1180-95. Vide
Bowyer.
_Bovay_, for Beauvais.
_Boville._ A baronial family from Booville or Bueville, Normandy,
Suffolk, 1086 (Domesday). The family was widely spread through
England; Chief-Justice Boville came of this stock.
_Bovington_, or Boventon. Vide Boynton.
_Bowack_, or Boag.
_Bowcher_, for Bourchier.
_Bowden_, from Bodin (Lower). Petrus Bodin, Normandy, Eleventh Century.
_Bowdler_ (from Hope Bowdler and other places, Salop). A form of De
Bollers, or Bodlers, of Flanders. Vide Buller.
_Bowen._ Bouvignes (Bely).
_Bowes_, from Boves, Normandy. John de Bowes or Boves, Normandy, 1180.
Hugh de Boves commanded in Poitou for King John (Roger of Wendover,
1287).
_Bowett._ Alexander Bonet occurs in Normandy, 1180. Bowet, England,
1321.
_Bowker._ Vide Booker. The names are armorially related.
_Bowles_, or Buelles. Vide Boyle. Hence, W. Lisle Bowles, the poet.
_Bowley_, for Beaulieu (Lower). Simon de Bello Loco, Normandy, 1180.
Alexander de Bello Loco, Bedfordshire, 1255.
_Bown_, armorially identified with Bohun of Midhurst. Vide Boon.
_Bowne._ Vide Bown.
_Bowran_, or Bowering, for Beaurain, near Cambrai, Flanders. Wybert de
Beaurain, Normandy, 1180. "Hence, the able writer, Sir John Bowring."
_Bowry._ Vide Bury.
_Bowser_, armorially identified with Bourchier.
_Bowtell_, for Boutel. U. S., Boutelle.
_Bowton_, for Boughton.
_Bowyer._ Norman-French, Bouvier. This name, as appears by the arms,
was originally Bouvier (Robson). Hugo Bouvier, Normandy, 1180. Le
Boyer, Kent, 1250.
_Bowyn_, armorially identified with Bohun. Vide Boon.
_Boyall_, a form of Boyle (Lower).
_Boyce_, a form of Bois.
_Boyd._ A branch of the Beeton family of Dinant. Vide Stuart. Descent
from a brother of Walter, the first High Steward of Scotland.
_Boydell._ Helto Fitzhugh, grandson of Osborne Fitz-Tezzo, Baron of
Dodelston, had issue Hugh Boydell, ancestor of this family.
_Boyes_, for Bois.
_Boyle_, from Boile, otherwise Boelles, or Builles, now La Buille,
near Rouen. William de Boel, or Boêles, and Gilbert occur in Normandy,
1180. William de Buels was descended from Helias de Buel, temp.
John. His son William settled in Hertford; hence Ludoric Buel Boyle,
ancestor of the Earls of Cork, Orrery, Shannon and other great houses.
One of the most notable members of the Boyle family (U. S. A.) was
Chief-Justice John Boyle, of Kentucky; a very able, eminent, and
fearless judge.
_Boyle_, of Scotland, from Boyville, of Normandy, otherwise Boeville
(vide Bousfield). Common name in Normandy, Twelfth Century. William de
Boeville (Bocville), Suffolk, 1086.
_Boyles_, for Boyle or Buelleis.
_Boynell_, armorially identified with Boyville.
_Boynton_, or De Brus, abbreviated from Boventon. Vide Bruce. Robert
Fitz-Norman Bruis or Bruce of Boventon, York, 1129. A leading family
(De Boventon or Boynton) in Twelfth and Thirteenth Centuries.
_Boys_, or Boyse, for Bois (French). A Huguenot Bois in Holland would
become Holtz; in America, Wood. (Vide Bois.)
_Boyson._ William Buisson of Normandy, 1180; Roger Buzun, Norfolk,
1258.
_Bozzard_, or Bussard, Bascart, or Buschart, Normandy, 1198. Boscard,
1203.
_Brabant_, from the Netherlands. Arnold Braban (Brabant), of Hamford,
occurs 1297.
_Brabazon_, from Brabant. Thomas Brabençon, Normandy, 1198. John
Brabazon, Oxfordshire, 1247.
_Brace_, from Bracey.
_Bracebridge_, or De Ardern. The family of Arden or Ardern was Norman
and went to England in 1066. Ralph, son of William de Ardern, was Lord
of Bracebridge, Lincoln, Thirteenth Century. The Bracebridge family
bears the arms of Arden. John Bracebrigge was living 1305. Washington
Irving has made "Bracebridge Hall" famous wherever English is read.
The name at least will survive. It was the peculiar distinction of
the blood of Arden that it flowed in the veins of Shakespeare. His
mother was an Arden, and his magical "Forest of Arden" immortalizes
the name.
_Bracey_, from Brécy, near Caen. Henry de Brécy occurs in Normandy,
1180-95. Robert de Brécy, Cheshire. From a branch of this Cheshire
family descend the present Brasseys, among whom the most distinguished
was the eminent engineer, an honored servant of England during the
Victorian reign.
_Bracher._ Allen Bracheor, Normandy, 1180. Vide Brasier.
_Brack_, for Brac. Vide Brake.
_Bragge_, for Brac. Vide Brake. Evain de Brac, Normandy, 1180. Richard
de la Brache, England, 1199. Bragg entered Kentucky in 1862.
_Brain_, from Brain, Anjou; Yorkshire, 1199.
_Bran_, for Brand.
_Branch_, from St. Denis de Branche, Normandy; Suffolk, 1219.
_Brand._ Walter Brandus, Caen, 1165. William Brant, Norfolk, 1086.
Simon Brand, Hertfordshire, 1325. The Brands of Lexington, Kentucky, a
well-known family.
_Brandram._ William Brandram, Normandy, 1198.
_Branis_, for Brain.
_Brant._ Vide Brand.