BENTLEY

The ancient origin of the name Bentley was found in the irishsurnames.com archives. Meaning 'of Bentley', this is a locational name from parishes in Counties Suffolk, Hants, Warwick, Derby, and Essex. This name is of Anglo-Saxon descent spreading to the Celtic countries of Ireland, Scotland and Wales in early times and is found in many mediaeval manuscripts throughout these countries. Examples of such are a John de Bentelege, County Derby, who was recorded in the 'Hundred Rolls', England, in the year 1273 and a Ricardus de Benteley, who was recorded in the 'Poll Tax' of the West Riding of Yorkshire in the year 1379. In Ireland the name Bentley was well established in Counties Clare and Limerick even before the name was brought into Ulster Province in significant numbers by settlers during the seventeenth century.The Bentley family crest (or coat of arms) came into existence many centuries ago. The process of creating these coats of arms began as early as the eleventh century although a form of Proto-Heraldry may have existed in some countries prior to this, including Ireland. The new more formalized art of Heraldry made it possible for families and even individual family members to have their very own family crest, coat of arms, including Bentley descendants.