Guild of One-Name Studies
One-name studies, Genealogy
This study is no longer registered with the Guild, but this profile page has been retained at the member's request. Please note that neither officers nor members of the Guild are able to answer any questions about this study.
The surname of Banfield derives from the surname Bampfylde which was first recognised in the parish of of Weston-Bamfylde near Castle Cary, in the county of Somerset. The name is made up of the old pre 7th century Olde English 'Bean' as in the vegetables and 'field'. The village mentioned was first recorded as Westone in the Domesday book. and as Benefield in the pipe rolls of Devenoshire in 1306.
I have two differing representations of the coat of arms which are quite different from each other. The most likely one seems to be a chevron around three pears.
There's a famous Football team in Argentina called Banfield which was named after a Edward Banfield who emigrated from England to become the first manager of Great Southern Railway Company. Founded in 1886 it won the Argetinian first division in 2009, the only trophy in its history.
There's a Banfield ironmongers in Brighton which has been in the family since it opened over 150 years ago.
Foulsham and Banfield are famous photographers of the later 19th early 20th century.
Banfield Pet Hospital is in the US
Gottfried Freiherr Von Banfield (1890-1986) was a famous Austrian WW1 pilot whose father was British.
Ashleigh Banfield is an anchor at CNN
The Surname of Banfield appears in the 1881 census on 1367 occasions
The ratio of Banfield's to the population of 1881 is 1:18892
In 2002 the estimated population was 2533 (ONS) the ration then slipped to 1:22068
The most prominent representations of Banfield across the UK in 1881 were:
Middlesex on 187 occasions
Somerset with 179
Cornwall with 173
Surrey 150
Sussex 129
The overall spread of the Banfield surname is mainly in the south and midlands although there were 2 Banfields living in Northumberland at the time.
There were also 865 Benfields. Again the most popular representation was in Middlesex.