Surname Bonfiled - Meaning and Origin

Bonfiled: What does the surname Bonfiled mean?

The surname Bonfiled is of Anglo-Saxon origin. It is a locational name, derived from a place so named in Staffordshire. The place itself was so called from the Olde English pre-seventh Century ‘bone-feld’, which means ‘the open land where bones are found’, and was named after the animal bones which had been discovered there. It is unclear as to why this would have been the case, however it is likely references a higher than average number of animal burials in the area.

The Bonfileds of Staffordshire can be traced back to the late 14th century, to the first on record, Thomas Bounffield, who is noted in the Calendar of Plea and Memoranda Rolls for Staffordshire in 1379. Henry Bonfiled became Bishop of Bath and Wells in the reign of King Henry VI, and Sir George Bonfiled was a distinguished lawyer and scholar in the 15th Century.

The Bonfiled surname is still primarily found within the Staffordshire area of England. However, owing to the diaspora which occurred due to immigration during the 19th and early 20th centuries, there are now many Bonfileds living in other countries throughout the world.

Bonfiled: Where does the name Bonfiled come from?

The last name Bonfield is believed to have originated in England and is still most commonly found there today, particularly in counties located in the West Midlands, South West, and East Midlands regions. Bonfield is also found across many other parts of the United Kingdom, including Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. It is less commonly found outside of the United Kingdom, though there are scattered Bonfields throughout North America, Europe, Australasia, and elsewhere.

In terms of specific countries, the Bonfield surname is most prevalent in the United States, where the 2000 census counted 171 individuals with that surname. Bonfield is also found in Ireland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, France, and Germany, among other countries.

The roots of the Bonfield surname are believed to reach back to the 12th century, likely to an individual living in what was then the Diocese of Chester, across North Cheshire and North Shropshire. It is also thought to be derived from "bun-field," meaning an ideal spot for pasture. Bonfield is now mostly found as a given first or last name, though it is still occasionally hyphenated in some parts of the United Kingdom.

Due to its relative rarity and predominantly British origin, the last name Bonfield may find itself spelled in various different ways, such as Bonfied, Bonnfield, Bunfield, and Bunfied. No matter how it's spelled, the chances are that it has its roots in England.

Variations of the surname Bonfiled

The surname Bonfiled is derived from the Old French words “bon” meaning “good,” and “fild” meaning “field.” Hence, the literal translation of the name is “good field.” This surname has a few variants depending on the language and country it is found in.

In England and Ireland the name is occasionally rendered as Bonfield. In Scotland, the name is usually spelled as Bonnyfield and sometimes can take the form of Bunneyfields. In Ireland, the name is often recorded as Bonnyfield and in Wales, the spelling of the name is often Bonfydd.

In France, the name may be found transposed to Bounfils, as well as Bonfil and Bonfils.

In Germany, the name may be written as Bohnfeld or Bolfels.

Variations of the name can also be seen in other languages of western Europe. For example, in Italian the name may become Bonfieddu, while in Spanish versions the name can be seen written as Bonfill.

The principal variants of Bonfiled are Bonfil, Bounfils, Bonfield, Bonfieddu, Bonfill, Bohnfeld, Bolfels, Bonnyfield, Bunneyfields, Bonfydd. Common nicknames and derivatives include Bon, Filds, and Filly.

Famous people with the name Bonfiled

• Daisy Bonfield: British television, film and theatre actress
• William Bonfield: Emeritus Professor at the University of Sheffield's Advanced Structural Materials Research Group
• James Bonfield: British computer scientist and a former Dean of Computing at the University of Southampton
• Jordan Bonfield: American painter
• John Bonfield: award-winning British children's author
• Stephen Bonfield: soprano saxophonist and composer
• Christopher Bonfield: former Canadian National Team cyclist
• Molly Lucretia Bonfield: American physician

Other surnames

Ba'AlawiBaadeBaaderBaakeBaalawiBaarBaariBaarschBaartBaarthBaartsBaarzBaasBabacanBabadagiBabayigitBabbBabbsBabcockBabcoxBabeBaberBabersBabeyBabieBabistBabstBâby