Recorded in several spellings including Benfield, Benfold, Bondfield, Bomfield, Bonfield and Bonnfield, this is an English surname but of French origins. It is an 'Invasion' name, being associated with the Norman conquest of England in 1066. It derives from the Normandy village name of 'Bonneville', literally 'good place', where there are three villages so named, two near the city of Rouen.The surname is one of the first to be recorded anywhere, when in the year 1131 Richard de Bondauilla, so much for medieval spelling, is recorded as a landowner in County Durham in the north east of England. Slightly later in the year 1197 Robert de Bonneville appears in the Pipe Rolls for the county of Yorkshire, where the name was prominent for several centuries. Sir Nicol Bonevile was one of the English knights at the successful battle of Boroughbridge in 1322, where the Scots were heavily defeated. Sir William Bonevile, of Sponton, in Yorkshire, was during the reign of King Henry V1 (1422 - 1461), recorded as William, Lord Boneville. The change to the modern spelling was very gradual. Richard Bonfelt was recorded at St James church, Garlickhythe, city of London, on March 24th 1537, Edward Bonnfild being recorded on September 11th 1589, when he married Alice Monnislie at the church of St Katherines by the Tower (of London), whilst on August 2nd 1602 Thomas Bonfield married Ann Wood at St James church, Clerkenwell.

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