|
![Show Contents]() Billaney History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 England
The ancestry of the name Billaney dates from the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. It comes from when the family lived in the parish of Bilney in Norfolk. The name literally means the dweller by the stream. Early Origins of the Billaney familyThe surname Billaney was first found in Norfolk at East Bilney, a parish, in the union of Mitford and Launditch, hundred of Launditch. The place name literally means "island near a ridge," or "island of a man called Bil(l)a," from the Old English word "bile," or the Old English personal name. 1 West Bilney dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086 where it was listed as Bilenei 2 and East Bilney dates back to 1254 when it was first listed a Billney. "Thomas Bilney (c. 1495-1531), a learned divine, who was burnt at Norwich, in the year 1531, for preaching against popery, is said to have been born here." 3 "He was a member of a Norfolk family which took its name from the villages of the same designation in that county. Local historians assert that he was born either at East Bilney or Norwich; but these statements seem to rest on probability rather than definite evidence. " 4 Early History of the Billaney familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Billaney research. Another 267 words (19 lines of text) covering the years 1199, 1202, 1216, 1273, 1288, 1327, 1495, 1500, 1531 and 1627 are included under the topic Early Billaney History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Billaney Spelling VariationsSpelling variations in names were a common occurrence before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate spelled their names differently as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Billaney have been found, including Bilney, Bilnie, Bylyne, Bilneye, Bilnye, Bilnay and others. Early Notables of the Billaney familyAnother 28 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Billaney Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Billaney familyFamilies began migrating abroad in enormous numbers because of the political and religious discontent in England. Often faced with persecution and starvation in England, the possibilities of the New World attracted many English people. Although the ocean trips took many lives, those who did get to North America were instrumental in building the necessary groundwork for what would become for new powerful nations. Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America bore the name Billaney, or a variant listed above: a number of settlers who arrived in the New World by the 19th century.
- Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
- Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
- Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
- Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
|
