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![Show Contents]() Billier History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 England
The name Billier finds its origins with the ancient Anglo-Saxons of England. It was given to one who worked as a bell-founder or a bellringer. The surname Billier is derived from the Old English word belle, which means bell. Early Origins of the Billier familyThe surname Billier was first found in Cambridgeshire, where they held a family seat from ancient times. The parish of Kirby Bellars in Leicestershire takes its name from the foundation of a college there in 1359 during the reign of Edward II. 1 One of the first records of the family was Roger de Beler (d. 1326), an English judge, who was son of William Beler, and grandson of Roger Beler, Sheriff of Lincolnshire in 1256. "That the family was settled in Leicestershire we know from a license obtained by the judge in 1316 to grant a lay fee in Kirkby-by-Melton, on the Wrethek in that county, to the warden and chaplains of St. Peter, on condition of their performing religious services for the benefit of the souls of himself and his wife Alicia, his father and mother, and ancestry generally." 2 Early History of the Billier familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Billier research. Another 228 words (16 lines of text) covering the years 1273, 1275, 1500, 1654, 1666, 1687, 1725, 1726, 1727 and 1750 are included under the topic Early Billier History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Billier Spelling VariationsThe English language only became standardized in the last few centuries; therefore, spelling variations are common among early Anglo-Saxon names. As the form of the English language changed, even the spelling of literate people's names evolved. Billier has been recorded under many different variations, including Beller, Bellere, Bellier, Biller, Billere, Billier, Billers and many more. Early Notables of the Billier familyNotables of this surname at this time include: Fettiplace Bellers (1687-1750?), English dramatist and philosophical writer, son of John Bellers (1654-1725) and Frances Bellers, was born in the parish of St. Andrew's, Holborn, London, 23 Sept. 1687. His father was a philanthropist, born about 1654 and was a member of the Society of Friends. "When about thirty years old he married Frances...
Another 61 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Billier Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Billier familyFor many English families, the political and religious disarray that shrouded England made the far away New World an attractive prospect. On cramped disease-ridden ships, thousands migrated to those British colonies that would eventually become Canada and the United States. Those hardy settlers that survived the journey often went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Billier or a variant listed above: Martin Biller, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1732.
- 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
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