Show ContentsBilsden History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Bilsden first arose amongst the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. It is derived from their having lived in one of several places called Bilton in the counties of Northumberland, Warwickshire, Essex, or Yorkshire.

Early Origins of the Bilsden family

The surname Bilsden was first found in Yorkshire at Bilton, a chapelry, in the parish of Swine, union of Skirlaugh, Middle division of the wapentake of Holderness. "This place, called in Domesday Book Biletone, at an early period gave name to a family resident here." 1 As previous mentioned, there are numerous places name Bilton and part of the reason is that the place name literally means "farmstead of a man called Bill or Billa." 2 Bilston(e) is similarly popular with places in Staffordshire and Leicestershire.

Early History of the Bilsden family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bilsden research. Another 55 words (4 lines of text) covering the year 1650 is included under the topic Early Bilsden History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bilsden Spelling Variations

One relatively recent invention that did much to standardize English spelling was the printing press. However, before its invention even the most literate people recorded their names according to sound rather than spelling. The spelling variations under which the name Bilsden has appeared include Bilton, Biltoune, Bilston, Bilson, Bilsden and many more.

Early Notables of the Bilsden family

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

Migration of the Bilsden family

At this time, the shores of the New World beckoned many English families that felt that the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. Thousands left England at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. A great portion of these settlers never survived the journey and even a greater number arrived sick, starving, and without a penny. The survivors, however, were often greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. These English settlers made significant contributions to those colonies that would eventually become the United States and Canada. An examination of early immigration records and passenger ship lists revealed that people bearing the name Bilsden arrived in North America very early: John Bilson who settled in Virginia in 1654; Stafford Bilson settled in Virginia in 1653; William Bilson settled in New England in 1752; Henry Billson settled in Philadelphia in 1868..



  1. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  2. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)


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