Beningfield

This is an interesting locational name of English origin from a so called 'lost' village of that name. The derivation is from the Olde English pre 7th Century 'Beonna' a given name of unknown origin and 'feld', open country, a field, thus the field of Beonna's people. The phenomenon of 'lost' villages was the result of enforced land clearance to make way for sheep pastures in the 14th Century, as well as more natural causes such as war, plague and migration of those seeking work elsewhere. It is estimated that there are seven to ten thousand lost villages and hamlets. One Cornelius Beningfield married Mary Griffin on the 8th January 1776 at St. Dunstan, Stepney, London. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Thomas Timothy Beningfield, which was dated 9th December 1770, during the reign of King George III, Farmer George, 1760 - 1820, 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.