Show ContentsBaily History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Baily arrived in England after the Norman Conquest of 1066. It is a name for a person who held the civil office of the same name in Normandy. The title 'Le Bailli' was approximately equal to that of Viscount or sheriff. [1] There was also a place named Bailleul-En-Vimeu which is about six miles south of Abbeyville in the Somme, Normandy from which some instances of the surname may have evolved. The name Baily is also an occupational name for a steward or official, deriving from "baiulivus" in Late Latin. In Scotland the word bailie, rather than bailiff is still used as the title for an officer in the courts.

Early Origins of the Baily family

The surname Baily was first found in Northumberland. However, there is still great controversy over the earliest origins of the name. There was great popular belief that the name was changed from Balliol, due to the unpopularity of the two Scottish Kings of that name. However, many historians, such as Bain, find no evidence for such a change, and cite very early instances of the name Baillie, such as William de Bailli, who appeared as a juror on an inquest concerning forfeited lands in Lothian around 1311-12. [2]

Early records of the Baillie Clan indicate that the aforementioned William de Bailli was also known as Baillie of Hoperig, who acquired the lands of Lamington in Lanarkshire. His son William was granted a charter confirming ownership of these same lands in 1358. Alexander, the eldest grandson of William and two brothers fled the country after they had beaten and killed their tutor. After serving in the army, Alexander received the lands of Dunain and Dochfour, and was appointed the Constable of Inverness. Another brother of Alexander's married a daughter of Sir Patrick Hume's in 1492, and from this union descended the Baillies of Jerviswood.

Early History of the Baily family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Baily research. Another 188 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1240, 1292, 1296, 1308, 1332, 1338, 1585, 1587, 1589, 1610, 1611, 1630, 1632, 1634, 1644, 1648, 1657, 1664, 1667, 1671, 1684, 1691, 1701, 1719, 1720, 1721, 1738, 1740, 1741, 1744, 1749, 1764, 1872 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Baily History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Baily Spelling Variations

Endless spelling variations are a prevailing characteristic of Norman surnames. Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules, and the introduction of Norman French added an unfamiliar ingredient to the English linguistic stew. French and Latin, the languages of the court, also influenced spellings. Finally, Medieval scribes generally spelled words according to how they sounded, so one person was often referred to by different spellings in different documents. The name has been spelled Baillie, Bailey, Bailie, Bayly, Bayley, Bailley, Baly, Ballye, Bayllie and many more.

Early Notables of the Baily family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was John Balliol King of Scotland from 1292-1296; Dr Richard Baylie (1585-1667), twice President of St John's College, Oxford, twice Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University and Dean of Salisbury; John Bayley (died 1611), an English politician, Mayor of Salisbury in 1587, Member of the Parliament for Salisbury in 1589; Robert Baillie of Jerviswood (1632-1684), a civil and religious reformer, eventually put to death for his outspokenness; Robert Baillie (Baillie of Jerviswood) (ca.1634-1684), a Scottish conspirator implicated in the Rye House Plot against King Charles...
Another 89 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Baily Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Baily Ranking

In the United States, the name Baily is the 6,565th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. [3]

Ireland Migration of the Baily family to Ireland

Some of the Baily family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 174 words (12 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Baily migration to the United States +

To escape the political and religious persecution within England at the time, many English families left for the various British colonies abroad. The voyage was extremely difficult, though, and the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving. But for those who made it, the trip was most often worth it. Many of the families who arrived went on to make valuable contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families reveals a number of immigrants bearing the name Baily or a variant listed above:

Baily Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • John Baily, who arrived in Virginia in 1643 [4]
  • George Baily, who landed in Maryland in 1677 [4]
Baily Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Thomas Baily, who arrived in Rhode Island in 1712 [4]
Baily Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Howard Baily, who arrived in Texas in 1835 [4]

Canada Baily migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Baily Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Mr. John Baily U.E. who settled in Eastern District [Cornwall], Ontario c. 1783 [5]
  • Mr. Joseph Baily U.E. who settled in Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1783 [5]
  • Mr. Levy Baily, "Levi" U.E. who settled in Cornwall, Ontario c. 1783 [5]

Australia Baily migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Baily Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

New Zealand Baily migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Baily Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • John Baily, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Annie Wilson" in 1863
  • Sarah Baily, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Annie Wilson" in 1863
  • Isaac Baily, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Annie Wilson" in 1863
  • Walter H. Baily, aged 23, a carpenter, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Cartvale" in 1874

Contemporary Notables of the name Baily (post 1700) +

  • Martin Neil Baily (b. 1949), American economist at the Brookings Institution and formerly at the Peterson Institute, 19th Chair of the Council of Economic Advisers (1999–2001)
  • Bernard Baily (1916-1996), American comic book artist best known as co-creator of the DC Comics characters the Spectre and Hourman
  • M. R. Baily, American Democratic Party politician, Member of Arizona State House of Representatives, 1941-42 [8]
  • John E. Baily, American Republican politician, Chair of Greene County Republican Party, 1953 [8]
  • Harry F. Baily (1882-1971), American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Pennsylvania, 1924, 1952 (alternate); Chair of Greene County Republican Party, 1927 [8]
  • Alonzo Baily, American politician, Member of Connecticut State House of Representatives from Vernon, 1835 [8]
  • Alfred Baily, American politician, Member of Connecticut State House of Representatives from Wethersfield, 1835 [8]
  • Abraham Baily, American politician, Member of Pennsylvania State Senate 2nd District, 1815-18 [8]
  • William Edward Baily (1855-1903), English brewer from Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, known for his founding with with Mansfield Brewery
  • Laurence Richardson Baily (1815-1887), English marine insurance specialist and politician, Member of Parliament for Liverpool Exchange (1885-1886)
  • ... (Another 6 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)


The Baily Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Ubi bene ibi patria
Motto Translation: One's country is where one is well.


  1. The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
  2. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
  3. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  4. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  5. Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
  6. State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Asia 1 voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1824 with 9 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/asia/1824
  7. South Australian Register Tuesday 3 February 1852. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) AMAZON 1852. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/amazon1852.shtml
  8. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, February 19) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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