Show ContentsHildesly History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Hildesly family

The surname Hildesly was first found in Berkshire, where the family name was first referenced in the year 1375 when William Hildesly held the estates of Bynham or Benham. East Ilsley, again in Berkshire, was an ancient family seat. "This place was originally called Hildesley, as appears from an inscription on a brass plate in the church, where the name occurs as belonging to an ancient family." 1

Early History of the Hildesly family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hildesly research. Another 76 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1455, 1487, 1538, 1698, 1705, 1710, 1720, 1723, 1724 and 1772 are included under the topic Early Hildesly History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hildesly Spelling Variations

The 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. Hildesly has been recorded under many different variations, including Hildersley, Hilderley, Hilderly, Hildesly, Hildesley, Hylderly, Hylderly, Hyldersley, Hylderley, Hildreth and many more.

Early Notables of the Hildesly family

Distinguished members of the family include John Hilsey or Hildesleigh d. 1538), Bishop of Rochester who is stated by Wood to have belonged to the Hildsleys of Benham, Berkshire, a branch of the Hildsleys of Hildsley, Berkshire. 2 Mark Hildesley (1698-1772), was Bishop of Sodor and Man, born at Murston, Kent, on 9 Dec. 1698, the eldest surviving son of Mark Hildesley, rector of Murston and also vicar of Sittingbourne from 1705. "In 1710 the father became...
Another 77 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Hildesly Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Hildesly family

For 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 Hildesly or a variant listed above: 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..



  1. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  2. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print


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