Show ContentsBiles History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The founding heritage of the Biles family is in the Anglo-Saxon culture that once dominated in Britain. The name Biles comes from when one of the family worked as a maker of polearms or halberds and billhooks as these were common weapons in early times. The name could also be a baptismal name derived from son of William, although this latter origin is less likely.

Early Origins of the Biles family

The surname Biles was first found in Somerset, where they held a family seat from ancient times, long before the Norman Conquest in 1066.

Early records of the name mention Walter Nicholas Bile who was documented in the year 1185 in London and Robert atte Byle appears in 1327 in County Surrey. [1]

William Byle of County Somerset, was documented during the reign of Edward III (1327-1377) [2] and Thomas Biles of Yorkshire, was listed in the Yorkshire Poll Tax of 1379. [3]

Early History of the Biles family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Biles research. Another 76 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1320, 1500, 1501, 1505, 1533, 1535, 1547, 1548, 1551, 1553, 1558, 1560, 1561, 1667 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Biles History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Biles Spelling Variations

The first dictionaries that appeared in the last few hundred years did much to standardize the English language. Before that time, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. The language was changing, incorporating pieces of other languages, and the spelling of names changed with it. Biles has been spelled many different ways, including Bill, Bills, Billes and others.

Early Notables of the Biles family

Distinguished members of the family include William Bill (d. 1501), Dean of Westminster, son of John Bill of Ashwell, Hertfordshire, and brother of Thomas Bill, M.D., of the same place, and of St. Bartholomew's, London, physician to Henry VIII. He was educated at St. John's College, Cambridge, where he...
Another 48 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Biles Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Biles Ranking

In the United States, the name Biles is the 7,775th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. [4]

Ireland Migration of the Biles family to Ireland

Some of the Biles family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 57 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Biles migration to the United States +

Thousands of English families in this era began to emigrate the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. Although the passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe, those who made the voyage safely were rewarded with opportunities unavailable to them in their homeland. Research into passenger and immigration lists has revealed some of the very first Biless to arrive in North America:

Biles Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • William Biles, who landed in New Jersey in 1678 [5]
  • William Biles, who arrived in New Jersey in 1679 [5]
  • William Biles (1644-1710), born in Dorchester, Dorset settled in Falls Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania in 1679, he was granted 50,000 acres and became a Justice for the 1st Provincial Supreme Court in 1681 [5]
  • William Biles, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1679 [5]
  • Charles Biles, who arrived in New Jersey in 1679 [5]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Biles Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Andres De Biles, who arrived in America in 1828 [5]
  • Edwin Biles, aged 36, who landed in New York in 1868 [5]

Contemporary Notables of the name Biles (post 1700) +

  • Edward G. Biles (1931-2020), American head coach of the National Football League's Houston Oilers from 1981 to 1983
  • Martin Biles (b. 1919), American javelin thrower at the 1948 Summer Olympics
  • Simone Arianne Biles (b. 1997), American gold, silver and bronze medalist artistic gymnast, the 2012 Junior National Champion
  • Daniel Biles, American Justice on the Kansas Supreme Court (2009-)
  • Keith Robert Biles JP, British born, Falkland Islands banker and politician, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of the Falkland Islands (2009-)
  • Oliver Biles (b. 1990), British-born Asian actor


The Biles 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: Omne solum patria
Motto Translation: Every land is a man's country.


  1. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  2. Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
  3. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  4. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  5. 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)


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