This surname is derived from a geographical locality. 'de Glanville.' Mr. Lower says, 'A place in the arrondissement of Pont l'Eveque in Normandy.' The change to Glanfield was natural; compare Merrifield for Merivale. Mr. Lower, quoting Shirley's Noble and Gentle Men, says, 'Ranulf de Glanville entered England with the Conqueror': Patronymic Britannia

Ranulf de Glanvile, Cambridgeshire, 1273. Hundred Rolls.

Reginald de Glanvil, Oxfordshire, ibid.

1724. Baptised — Mary, d. Samuel and Mary Glanvil: Reg. St. Columb Major.

1727. — Elizabeth, d. Samuell and Man Glanfield: ibid.

Evidently the parents were the same in the last two entries.

(French-Latin) belonging to Glanville (Normandy), perh = ‘the Oak- Tree Estate’ [O.Fr, glande, an oak; Latin glans -ndis, an acorn+French ville, Latin villa]; but poss. from a personal name: cp. Breton glan=Wel. glán, ‘ pure,’ ‘ holy.’ Ranulf de Glanvill, A.D. 1212.—Gt. Inq. of Serv.

A place in the arrondissement of Pont-l'Eveque, in Normandy. It is latinized ' De Glanvilla,' and anglicized Glanfleld. Robert de Glanville, a tenant in Suffolk, temp. Domesd. was ancestor of the earls of Suffolk of that name.

Local. A house or castle on the shore of a river or the sea; Welsh, glan, a shore, bank of a river; old French or Gaelic, the same; as Glandeve, in France, on the banks of the Far. Glan or glen signifies also a narrow valley or dell.

Glanville is a name that has now its Cornish home around Grampound Road. The Glanvils were a very ancient and distinguished Tavistock family. Sir John Glanville, of Tavistock, was one of the first lawyers in the reign of Charles I. John Glanvill, of Catchfrench, was on the Commission of the Peace for the county of Cornwall at the death of George I., and Francis Glanville held the same office in 1803 (P.).

The Glanvilles were an ancient and distinguished knightly family of Halwel House, in Whitchurch, near Tavistock, where they resided for 300 years. They have been familiarly connected with Tavistock for more than four centuries (W. T. and Pr.). The name still occurs in the town and neighbourhood. A branch of the family has long established itself in Cornwall, and further reference to the name will be found under that county.