Bullivant History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Etymology of Bullivant

What does the name Bullivant mean?

The name Bullivant comes from a name for a person who was referred to as the bon enfant, and is equivalent to the English Goodchild. 1 2

"This name has been derived from Normandy, France, bel enfant, fine child." 3

Early Origins of the Bullivant family

The surname Bullivant was first found in Oxfordshire, where William Bonenfant, Bonenfaud was listed in the Curia Regis Rolls for 1207-1208. Later, Henry Bonefant was recorded in the Hundredorum Rolls for Berkshire in 1279 and in Sussex, John Bon Effaunt was registered in the Subsidy Rolls for 1332. In London, early records there show Roger Bonyfaunt in 1472 and in Suffolk, Henry Bolyvaunt was registered in the SubsidyRolls for 1524. 1

The Writs of Parliament lists William Bonenfannt, or Bonaffaunt, 1302. Another source note the following in the Hundredorum Rolls: Walter Bonenfant, Cambridgeshire; Bonenfant Judaus, Cambridgeshire; Henry Bonefant, Buckinghamshire; and John Bonefaunt, Oxfordshire. 4

Early History of the Bullivant family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bullivant research. Another 216 words (15 lines of text) covering the years 1207, 1279, 1332, 1349, 1369, 1472, 1524, 1540, 1631, 1637, 1674 and 1707 are included under the topic Early Bullivant History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bullivant Spelling Variations

Until quite recently, the English language has lacked a definite system of spelling rules. Consequently, Anglo-Saxon surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. Changes in Anglo-Saxon names were influenced by the evolution of the English language, as it incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other languages. Although Medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, so it is common to find one person referred to by several different spellings of his surname, even the most literate people varied the spelling of their own names. Variations of the name Bullivant include Bonyfant, Bonifant, Bonenfant, Bonenfand, Bonefant, Bon Effaunt, Bonyfaunt, Bolyvaunt, Bonyvant and many more.

Early Notables of the Bullivant family

More information is included under the topic Early Bullivant Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bullivant migration to the United States +

Searching for a better life, many English families migrated to British colonies. Unfortunately, the majority of them traveled under extremely harsh conditions: overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the ocean. For those families that arrived safely, modest prosperity was attainable, and many went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the new colonies. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Bullivant or a variant listed above:

Bullivant Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Benjamin Bullivant, who arrived in Boston, Massachusetts in 1688 5
Benjamin Bullivant, who settled in Boston in 1688
Francis Bullivant, who settled in Virginia in 1699
Fra Bullivant, who landed in Virginia in 1699 5

Bullivant Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Francis Bullivant, who arrived in Virginia in 1702 5

Bullivant Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Lucy Bullivant, aged 24, British settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Barque Diana" in 1830 6
Anne Bullivant, aged 3, British settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Barque Diana" in 1830 6
John Bullivant, aged 1, British settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Barque Diana" in 1830 6
Robert Bullivant, aged 25, British settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Barque Diana" in 1830 6
George A. Bullivant, aged 29, British settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Westminster" in 1842 6
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Bullivant migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Bullivant Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Frances Bullivant, aged 22, a domestic servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1859 aboard the ship "North"
Mary Bullivant, aged 20, a domestic servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1859 aboard the ship "North"

Bullivant Settlers in Australia in the 20th Century

Henry E. Bullivant, British settler who arrived in Fremantle, Australia aboard the ship "Orama" in 1912 7
K. Bullivant, British settler who arrived in Australia aboard the ship "Esperance Bay" in 1925 7
L. S. Bullivant, French settler who arrived in Australia aboard the ship "Otranto" in 1926 7
H. Bullivant, British settler who arrived in Australia aboard the ship "Oronsay" in 1926 7

Contemporary Notables of the name Bullivant (post 1700) +

Terry Bullivant (b. 1956), English football player, and manager
David Bullivant, member of the Bioengineering Institute at the University of Auckland

Sources +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Charnock, Richard, Stephen, Ludus Patronymicus of The Etymology of Curious Surnames. London: Trubner & Co., 60 Paternoster Row, 1868. Print.
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Ellis Island Search retrieved 21st October 2021. Retrieved from https://heritage.statueofliberty.org/passenger-result
National Archives of Australia retrieved 21st October 2021. Retrieved from https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au