This name occurs more than once in the Norman chartularies as Buffart, or Le Buffart, and is three times entered in the Liber Niger. William Buffare, in 1165, held two and a half fees of Gervase Paganell in Staffordshire; Rotland de Butfard three fees of Hugo de Laci, in Herefordshire; and Roger Buffard part of a fee of Ralph Halselin in Nottinghamshire. William left his name to Penne Buffare, or Buffary’s Penne in Staffordshire, held in 1261 by his descendant Robert, one of the Reguardors of Kinver Forest. Yet he himself was fined and imprisoned as a trespasser against the forest laws. In 1272, on the day of St. Nicholas, he and others “entered the forest with bows and arrows, and killed a doe, and carried away the venison and divided it:” and a second time, the same year, “entered the Haye of Aswode with bows and arrows for the purpose of taking venison, and were there all day; and towards evening, in leaving the forest they were challenged by the foresters, who wished to attack them; and they insulted the foresters, and at length, through the darkness of the night, they escaped.”—Staffordshire Historical Collections. The name is generally given Buffare, and sometimes Buffary or Buffray. The male line of this family became extinct in the reign of Henry IV. (Original deeds at Wrottesley.) In addition to their Staffordshire estate, they held Paddington-Bray in Surrey, of the Barony of Dudley. “On the Fine Roll of 11 Henry III., the Sheriff of Surrey is ordered to take into the King’s hands the land of William Buffare in Padinden.”

“The Testa de Nevill states that Padindem, in Surrey, was taken into the King’s hands on the occasion of the outlawry of Amice Wylekun, who was received into his house by William Buffari, and was found there.”—Ibid. For harbouring this unfortunate woman, he suffered the additional penalty of four years’ imprisonment Among the shields of the knights of “Estaffordeshire” of the time of Edward II. in an ancient Roll preserved among the Cotton MSS., and headed “Ces sunt les Noms e les Armes a Banerez de Engleterre,” appears that of Sir John Buffery, Argent, a chevron between three annulets Sable.

Reginald Buffard, who was of Shropshire c. 1272 (Rotul. Hundred.), does not occur in their pedigree, but probably belonged to the same family.

A Norman name: Bouffey; a local name Or Beaufour.