Wilberfosse History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The history of the Wilberfosse family name begins after the Norman Conquest of 1066. They lived in Yorkshire, at Wilberfosse.

Early Origins of the Wilberfosse family

The surname Wilberfosse was first found in Yorkshire where they were Lords of the manor of Wilberforce, and descended from Phillip of Kyme, Lord of Wilberfosse. The parish of Wilberfoss(e) in the East Riding of Yorkshire was home to the family. "This place, from the time of the Conquest, was the property of the Wilberforce family, from which was descended the late William Wilberforce, the distinguished philanthropist; but the ancient family mansion and the estates were sold in 1710, and the lands are now divided among several proprietors, of whom Col. Wyndham is lord of the manor." 1

Early History of the Wilberfosse family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Wilberfosse research. Another 109 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1797 and 1833 are included under the topic Early Wilberfosse History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Wilberfosse 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 Wilberforce, Wilberfoss, Wilberfosse and many more.

Early Notables of the Wilberfosse family

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

Migration of the Wilberfosse family

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 Wilberfosse or a variant listed above were: William Wilberforce settled in Virginia in 1730.

The Wilberfosse 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: Nos non nobis
Motto Translation: We not for ourselves.

Citations +

Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.