Show ContentsBilsland History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Bilsland family

The surname Bilsland was first found in Ayrshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Inbhir Àir), formerly a county in the southwestern Strathclyde region of Scotland, that today makes up the Council Areas of South, East, and North Ayrshire, where they held a family seat on the English/Scottish border. After the Norman Conquest of England many of Duke William's rebellious Barons moved north. The border became a convenient but turbulent no-man's land where the persecuted Many were given land by King Malcolm Canmore and later by King David of Scotland. Some were native Scots. In the 16th century they became known as the 'unruly clans'. The name was first recorded in Scotland at Ricarton in Ayrshire.

Early History of the Bilsland family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bilsland research. Another 91 words (6 lines of text) covering the year 1600 is included under the topic Early Bilsland History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bilsland Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Billsland, Bilsland, Bullsland, Bissland, Bisland, Bessland, Bellisland and many more.

Early Notables of the Bilsland family

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

Migration of the Bilsland family

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: the name represented in many forms and recorded from the mid 17th century in the great migration from Europe. Migrants settled in the eastern seaboard from Newfoundland, to Maine, to Virginia, the Carolinas, and to the islands..


Contemporary Notables of the name Bilsland (post 1700) +

  • Sir John Bilsland Bailey KCB (1928-2021), British lawyer and public servant, HM Procurator General and Treasury Solicitor (1984–1988)


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