Willberfoss History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Willberfoss is an ancient Norman name that arrived in England after the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Willberfoss family lived in Yorkshire, at Wilberfosse.

Early Origins of the Willberfoss family

The surname Willberfoss 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 Willberfoss family

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

Willberfoss Spelling Variations

Norman surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. The frequent changes in surnames are largely due to the fact that the Old and Middle English languages lacked definite spelling rules. The introduction of Norman French to England, as well as the official court languages of Latin and French, also had pronounced influences on the spelling of surnames. Since medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, rather than adhering to any specific spelling rules, it was common to find the same individual referred to with different spellings. The name has been spelled Wilberforce, Wilberfoss, Wilberfosse and many more.

Early Notables of the Willberfoss family

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

Migration of the Willberfoss family

Many English families emigrated to North American colonies in order to escape the political chaos in Britain at this time. Unfortunately, many English families made the trip to the New World under extremely harsh conditions. Overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the stormy Atlantic. Despite these hardships, many of the families prospered and went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the United States and Canada. Early North American immigration records have revealed a number of people bearing the name Willberfoss or a variant listed above: William Wilberforce settled in Virginia in 1730.

The Willberfoss 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.