Billstone History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Early Origins of the Billstone family

The surname Billstone was first found in Warwickshire where in "the Domesday Book [of 1086] there are four Bellisons, one Belson, and one Bilson, all evidently of the same stock, namely, Bellson (i.e. the son of Isabella). Bilson is an easy variant of Belson. " 1

This author continues "there is no evidence in favour of 'the son of Bill,' i.e. William." 1

Early History of the Billstone family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Billstone research. Another 151 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1510, 1544, 1547, 1561, 1600, 1606, 1613, 1616 and 1627 are included under the topic Early Billstone History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Billstone Spelling Variations

Anglo-Norman names are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. When the Normans became the ruling people of England in the 11th century, they introduced a new language into a society where the main languages of Old and later Middle English had no definite spelling rules. These languages were more often spoken than written, so they blended freely with one another. Contributing to this mixing of tongues was the fact that medieval scribes spelled words according to sound, ensuring that a person's name would appear differently in nearly every document in which it was recorded. The name has been spelled Bilson, Billson, Bilsonn and others.

Early Notables of the Billstone family

Another 31 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Billstone Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Billstone migration to the United States +

For many English families, the political and religious disarray that plagued their homeland made the frontiers of the New World an attractive prospect. Thousands migrated, aboard cramped disease-ridden ships. They arrived sick, poor, and hungry, but were welcomed in many cases with far greater opportunity than at home in England. Many of these hardy settlers went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Among early immigrants bearing the name Billstone or a variant listed above were:

Billstone Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Thomas Billstone, aged 22, who immigrated to America from Plymouth, England, in 1923

Citations +

Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)