There is some dispute over this particular origin, however, it is generally accepted that despite it's 'English' appearance, the origin is Norman French as in the village known as'Little Caufield' in Essex. Introduced after the 1066 Conquest, the name originates from Canville Les Deux Eglises in the Department of Seine Inferieure, the spelling alternatives being Camwell, Caufield, Canwell and Cempfield. Benedict Caufield 1563 - 1611 was a Capuchin Friar imprisoned in the Tower for three years Circa 1598 - 1601. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Richard de Camvilla which was dated 1148, The Pipe Rolls of Oxford during the reign of King Stephen (Stephen of Blois) 1135 - 1154 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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