Helisbie History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The vast movement of people that followed the Norman Conquest of England of 1066 brought the Helisbie family name to the British Isles. They lived in a place in Cheshire called Helsby, which was recorded in the Domesday Book as Helesbe. The place-name Helesbe is derived from the Old Norman word hjallr, which means ledge and refers to a ledge on a mountainside, and byr, which means farm or settlement. Thus, the place-name refers to a farm that is located on a ledge on a mountainside. After the Norman Conquest, William the Conqueror gave his friends and relatives most of the land formerly owned by Anglo-Saxon aristocrats. As a result, the place-name Helsby is of Norman French rather than Old English origin.

Early Origins of the Helisbie family

The surname Helisbie was first found in Cheshire where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor of Helmsby. At the time of the taking of the Domesday Book in 1086, a census initiated by Duke William of Normandy after his conquest of England in 1066 at Hastings, the village of Helsby was held by Earl Hugh, Earl of Chester. Conjecturally, it is from an unknown Norman noble who was tenant of this village from the Earl who was the ancestor of this family. The village lay between Helsby Marshes and Helsby Hill.

Early History of the Helisbie family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Helisbie research. Another 104 words (7 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Helisbie History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Helisbie Spelling Variations

A multitude of spelling variations characterize Norman surnames. Many variations occurred because Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules. The introduction of Norman French to England also had a pronounced effect, as did the court languages of Latin and French. Therefore, one person was often referred to by several different spellings in a single lifetime. The various spellings include Helsby, Hellsby, Helsbie, Helsbee, Hellsbee and many more.

Early Notables of the Helisbie family

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

Migration of the Helisbie family

Many English families left England, to avoid the chaos of their homeland and migrated to the many British colonies abroad. Although the conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and some travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute, once in the colonies, many of the families prospered and made valuable contributions to the cultures of what would become the United States and Canada. Research into the origins of individual families in North America has revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Helisbie or a variant listed above: Richard Hellsby who landed in North America in 1710.

The Helisbie 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: En Dieu est mon esperance
Motto Translation: In God is my hope.