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The Bassilley family name is linked to the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. Their name comes from Basile, which means royal. There is some disagreement about this name's origin. While the Anglo-Saxon reference is strong, there is strong evidence that the name could have been derived from the name Bezilles, from Biszeilles in Flanders. In this case, the name could have landed in England and settled in Berkshire where the local Besselsleigh was their ancient homestead.
The surname Bassilley was first found in the West Riding of Yorkshire in Bashall-Eaves, a township, in the parish of Mitton, union of Clitheroe, W. division of the wapentake of Staincliffe and Ewcross. "This place has been variously designated Beckshalgh, Batsalve, Bakesholf, and Bashalll; but the first orthography is the true one, viz., Beckshalgh, or 'the hill by the brooks,' which agrees precisely with its situation: in Domesday Book it is styled Baschelf. " 1
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bassilley research. Another 221 words (16 lines of text) covering the years 1219, 1251, 1273, 1500, 1674 and 1675 are included under the topic Early Bassilley History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Until the dictionary, an invention of only the last few hundred years, the English language lacked any comprehensive system of spelling rules. Consequently, spelling variations in names are frequently found in early Anglo-Saxon and later Anglo-Norman documents. One person's name was often spelled several different ways over a lifetime. The recorded variations of Bassilley include Basile, Bassil, Basil, Basill, Bassal, Basall, Basilie, Basille, Bazill, Bazil and many more.
More information is included under the topic Early Bassilley Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Thousands of English families boarded ships sailing to the New World in the hope of escaping the unrest found in England at this time. Although the search for opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad took the lives of many because of the cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels, the opportunity perceived in the growing colonies of North America beckoned. Many of the settlers who survived the journey went on to make important contributions to the transplanted cultures of their adopted countries. The Bassilley were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records: Winnefred Basil who arrived in Boston in 1849.