This rare and unusual name has two distinct possible origins. Firstly, it may be of Anglo-Saxon origin, and a variant of the locational name Bulvan, deriving from the place called Bulphan near Tilbury in Essex. The placename was recorded as "Bulgeuen" in the Domesday Book of 1086, and as "Bulewefen" in the Essex Subsidy Rolls of 1238, and means "the fen belonging to the burg" (Tilbury), from the Olde English pre 7th Century "burge-fen". Recordings of the surname from this source include: Josias Bulvan (1567, Essex); Elinor Belwyn (1569, Essex); and Elizabeth Belvine (1604, Cambridgeshire). Secondly, the name Belvin may be a variant form of the surname developed from the male given name Baldwin, also found as Balwin, which is of Old Germanic origins, and composed of the elements "bald", bold, brave, with "wine", friend. One Stephen Baldewin was recorded in the Hampshire Pipe Rolls of 1200. Variants of the surname from this source include: Ellen Bellwine (1581, Lincolnshire); Mary Ballwen (1632, Herefordshire); and Ann Bolvin (1780, Hampshire). The marriage of William Belvin and Joane Poupe was recorded at East Wellow, Hampshire, on May 23rd 1686. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Peter Belvin, which was dated October 13th 1588, marriage to Mary Justice, at St. Botolph's, Bishopsgate, London. during the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1, known as "Good Queen Bess", 1558 - 1603. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

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