Show ContentsBilberry History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Bilberry belongs to the early history of Britain, it's origins lie with the Anglo-Saxons. It is a product of their having lived in Bilbrough, a village near Tadcaster in the county of Yorkshire. The place name appears in the 11th century in the Domesday Book of 1086: "In Bilbrough, Christchurch, 8 carucates of land taxable. Land for 4 ploughs. Richard (son of Arnfastr) has there one plough; and 6 villagers and 2 smallholders with 2 ploughs. Woodland pasture in places. The whole, 1 league long and a half wide. Value before 1066, 44s; now 22s."

Early Origins of the Bilberry family

The surname BilBerry was first found in Yorkshire, at the village of Billbrough where despite the village's long history back to the Domesday Book, 1 has a population of only 319 accordingly to the 2001 census. The toponym Bilborough is composed of the Old English personal name Bille and "burh" meaning "stronghold, fortress". 2

One of the earliest references to this name or to a variant is Richard de Bilburgh, molendarius (miller), who is listed in the Register of the Freemen of the City of York in 1379. 3

Early History of the Bilberry family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bilberry research. Another 302 words (22 lines of text) covering the years 1086, 1219, 1308, 1379, 1500, 1567, 1619, 1632, 1867 and 1885 are included under the topic Early Bilberry History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bilberry Spelling Variations

Until the dictionary, an invention of only the last few hundred years, the English language lacked any comprehensive system of spelling rules. Consequently, spelling variations in names are frequently found in early Anglo-Saxon and later Anglo-Norman documents. One person's name was often spelled several different ways over a lifetime. The recorded variations of Bilberry include Bilbrough, Bilbrow, Bilborough, Billeburg, Bilburgh, Bilburg, Bilbery, Billbrey and many more.

Early Notables of the Bilberry family

More information is included under the topic Early Bilberry Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the BilBerry family

Thousands of English families boarded ships sailing to the New World in the hope of escaping the unrest found in England at this time. Although the search for opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad took the lives of many because of the cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels, the opportunity perceived in the growing colonies of North America beckoned. Many of the settlers who survived the journey went on to make important contributions to the transplanted cultures of their adopted countries. The Bilberry were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records: William Bilbrough who arrived in Virginia in 1650 and Joseph Bilbrough in Pennsylvania in 1828.



  1. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  2. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  3. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)


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