Billingham History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:

Scotland

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Billingham comes from a place name. The roots of this Scottish place name; however date back to the great movement of the Norse Vikings. The ancestors of the Billingham family lived in the manor of Bellingham in Northumberland, where the family held this estate since the early Middle Ages. By trade, the family was traditionally foresters, and principally cared for the forest of Tynedale, "for tyme beyond memory". The name literally means "homestead of the dwellers at the bell-shaped hill" and is derived from the Old English words Bell+ ing + ham. 1

Early Origins of the Billingham family

The surname Billingham was first found in Bellingham, Northumberland, where Alan of Bellingham was Lord of the manor shortly after the Norman Conquest in 1066. 2

Early records show that there were perpetual feuds between Alan de Bellingham and the Charltons of Hasleyside. It seems that the Charletons were the victor as while they have a mansion near the town, the Bellinghams have pretty much disappeared from the county. Henry Bellingham of Bellingham was made Knight Banneret by King Henry VI after the battle of Wakefield.

Richard Billingham or Bullingham (fl. 1350), was a schoolman, "whose name appears on the rolls of Merton College, Oxford, between 1344 and 1350, is mentioned by Wood (Antiquities of Oxford, i. 447 seqq.) as having been concerned in a riot arising about an election to the chancellorship of the University in 1349. " 3

Billingham Manor (or Billingham House) is a manor house in Chillerton, on the Isle of Wight that dates back to 1631.

Early History of the Billingham family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Billingham research. Another 162 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1296, 1506, 1511, 1512, 1528, 1530, 1545, 1548, 1549, 1560, 1571, 1576, 1592, 1597, 1598, 1605, 1625, 1633, 1634, 1641, 1672, 1950 and 1958 are included under the topic Early Billingham History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Billingham Spelling Variations

Spelling and translation were quite undeveloped in the Middle Ages. Consequently, the spelling of Scottish names was an inconsistent practice, usually governed by the unique ear of the scribe recording the name. Over the years, Billingham was spelled Bellingham, Bellinghame, Belingham, Belinghame, Billingham and many more.

Early Notables of the Billingham family

Notable amongst the family at this time was Richard Bellingham (1592?-1672), an English colonial magistrate, lawyer, and several-time Governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. "He was educated for the law, and from 1625 to 8 Nov. 1633 was recorder of Boston, Lincolnshire. In 1634 he emigrated, along with his wife, to Massachusetts, and in the following year he was elected deputy governor of the colony. By a majority of six votes over John Winthrop he was, in 1641, elected governor. " 3 Sir Edward Bellingham d. 1549), was Lord Deputy of Ireland and the oldest son of Edward Bellingham, Esq., of Erlingham...
Another 119 words (8 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Billingham Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Billingham family to Ireland

Some of the Billingham family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 111 words (8 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Billingham migration to the United States +

Opportunity and land greeted those who made it all the way. Some had the opportunity to solidify their new freedom by fighting in the American War of Independence, while others went or stayed north as United Empire Loyalists. Recently, the ancestors of those brave settlers have been able to recover much of their heritage through Clan societies and other patriotic organizations. A thorough examination of passenger and immigration lists has disclosed evidence of many early immigrants of the name Billingham:

Billingham Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Alice Billingham, who arrived in Maryland in 1674 4
Mary Billingham, who landed in Maryland in 1674 4
Thomas Billingham, who arrived in Maryland in 1674 4

Billingham Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Mary Billingham, who settled in Maryland in 1741

Billingham Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

William Billingham, who arrived in New York in 1820

Billingham migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Billingham Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Joseph Billingham, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Eliza" in 1849 5
Phillip Billingham, aged 19, who arrived in South Australia in 1850 aboard the ship "Lysander" 6

Billingham migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Billingham Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Martha Billingham, aged 23, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Jessie Osborne" in 1867
Patrick Billingham, aged 20, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Alumbagh" in 1875 7

Contemporary Notables of the name Billingham (post 1700) +

Walter James Billingham II, American actor from Oliver Springs, Tennessee
Robert Iain Colin "Bob" Billingham (1957-2014), English-born, American competitive silver medalist sailor at the 1988 Summer Olympics from London, England
John Eugene "Jack" Billingham (b. 1943), American former starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played from 1968 through 1980
Mr. A. H. Billingham, British Councillor, held the position of Sheriff of Nottingham, England from 1941 to 1942
John "Jack" Billingham (1914-1981), English professional footballer who played in 317 matches from 1935 to 1957
Margaret Billingham MD (1930-1979), née Macpherson, Tanzania-born, British pathologist at Stanford University Medical Center who developed "Billingham's Criteria"
Dr. John Billingham BM BCh (1930-2013), British physician from Worcester, England, Director of the SETI Program Office and Director of the Life Sciences Division at the NASA Ames Research Center
Trevor Billingham BEM (1935-2005), Australian athletics administrator and the founder of Little Athletics; he carried the Olympic flame in the 1956 and 2000 Olympics
Rupert Everett Billingham FRS (1921-2002), British biologist from Warminster, Wiltshire, known for his pioneering work in the fields of reproductive immunology and organ transplants
Mickey Billingham, English former keyboardist for the band Dexys Midnight Runners
... (Another 3 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Billingham family +

The Billingham 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: Ainsi il est
Motto Translation: Thus it is.