Belby History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Early Origins of the Belby family

The surname Belby was first found in Yorkshire at Bielby or in Lincolnshire at Beelby. Belebi was listed in the Domesday Book of 1086 1 and literally meant "farmstead or village of a man called Beli," from the Viking personal name + "by." 2

Lincolnshire was the first record of the family; that of Walter de Beleby who was recorded in the Assize Rolls of 1202. Later, John de Beleby was recorded in the Feet of Fines for Yorkshire in 1372 and much later, Sicillia Beilby was registered as a Freeman of York in 1464. 3

The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 had entries for Robertus de Bilby; and Willelmus de Bilby who held lands there at that time. 4

Early History of the Belby family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Belby research. Another 111 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1510, 1544, 1600, 1635 and 1730 are included under the topic Early Belby History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Belby Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, French and other languages became incorporated into English through the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Belby include Beilby, Beelby, Beilbie, Bealbie, Beelbie, Beelbe, Belby and many more.

Early Notables of the Belby family

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

Belby migration to the United States +

A great wave of immigration to the New World was the result of the enormous political and religious disarray that struck England at that time. Families left for the New World in extremely large numbers. The long journey was the end of many immigrants and many more arrived sick and starving. Still, those who made it were rewarded with an opportunity far greater than they had known at home in England. These emigrant families went on to make significant contributions to these emerging colonies in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers carried this name or one of its variants:

Belby Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Joe Belby, aged 38, who immigrated to America, in 1918
Adele Catherine Belby, aged 5, who landed in America from Nassau, Bahamas, in 1919

Belby 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:

Belby Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. W. Belby, Scottish settler travelling from Glasgow aboard the ship "Robert Henderson" arriving in Bluff, Southland, South Island, New Zealand on 18th November 1863 5

Citations +

Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html