Bulmer (family)

The Bulmer family were a noble family of Norman England, resident in Yorkshire. The family takes their name from Bulmer, North Yorkshire. The name Bulmer comes from English "Bull mere", a lake frequented by a bull, and is an Anglicised form of Gaelic "Búir na mara" (literally meaning "roar of the sea") from the Celtic tribe Brigantes during their occupation of the area. Ansketil de Bulmer was the first documented member of the Bulmer family who lived in the area in the twelfth century with the current spelling.

Ansketil was the High Sheriff of Yorkshire. The surname Bulmer is the subject of much discussion as it is believed that they were an aristocratic family of Anglo-Saxon origin who retained their status after the invasion of the Normans. It is believed that the Bulmers were related to the Anglo-Saxon noble Liulf, (also Ligulf or Luigulf), who was the first member of the Lumley family. Liulf was murdered at Gateshead by the retainers of William Walcher, the first Norman Bishop of Durham, in 1081. The Doomsday book lists the 'Lord' of Bulmer, Yorkshire, as Nigel Fossard for Tenant-in-chief, Count Robert de Mortain. The Head of the Manor is identified as Bulmer I. In 1066 the Lord was Luigulf.

The Bulmers are thought to have continued as tenants of the Normans who inherited Liulf's land in Yorkshire. Sometime in the twelfth century Ansketil Bulmer is said to have married the daughter of the Lord of Brancepeth and their son Bertram Bulmer, who succeeded him as High Sheriff, inherited this property. Later the Bulmers intermarried with the powerful Norman family of Neville, who adopted the bull for their coat of arms and inherited Brancepeth Castle. Raby Castle, the other great Neville property may also have belonged to the Bulmers as the oldest part of this castle, the Saxon Bulmer Tower, is inscribed with the initials BB for Bertram Bulmer.

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