Show ContentsBelsbey History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Belsbey family

The surname Belsbey was first found in Lincolnshire at Bilsby, a parish, in the hundred of Calceworth, Lincolnshire. This village was listed as Billesbi in the Domesday Book 1 and meant "farmstead or village of a man called Bildr from the Old Norse personal name "by" 2 Alternatively the name could have come from Beelsby, a village in North East Lincolnshire. Conjecturally, the surname is descended from the tenant of the lands of Beelsby, held by Godric the King's Steward, who was recorded in the Domesday Book census of 1086. At that time, Beelsby held 3 mills.

Early History of the Belsbey family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Belsbey research. Another 114 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1097, 1190, 1484, 1510, 1550, 1600 and 1604 are included under the topic Early Belsbey History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Belsbey Spelling Variations

Spelling variations in names were a common occurrence in the eras before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate regularly changed the spellings of their names as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Belsbey have been found, including Billesby, Billsby, Beelsby, Belsby, Bilsby, Bilbie, Bilsbie and many more.

Early Notables of the Belsbey family

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

Migration of the Belsbey family

For many English families, the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. For such families, the shores of Ireland, Australia, and the New World beckoned. They left their homeland at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. Many arrived after the long voyage sick, starving, and without a penny. But even those were greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. Numerous English settlers who arrived in the United States and Canada at this time went on to make important contributions to the developing cultures of those countries. Many of those families went on to make significant contributions to the rapidly developing colonies in which they settled. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Belsbey were among those contributors: Clemence Byllesby, aged 19, who arrived at Ellis Island, in 1919; Henry M. Byllesby, aged 60, who arrived at Ellis Island, in 1918; Henry W. Byllesby, aged 55, who arrived at Ellis Island, in 1913.



  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)


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