Contents [hide]

Bailey History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables World Ranking

Ireland United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Motto Suggested Reading Citations

Bailey History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland
Scotland

The name Bailey reached England in the great wave of migration following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The name Bailey is for a person who held the civil office of the same name in Normandy. The title 'Le Bailli' was approximately equal to that of Viscount or sheriff. 1 There was also a place named Bailleul-En-Vimeu which is about six miles south of Abbeyville in the Somme, Normandy from which some instances of the surname may have evolved. The name Bailey is also an occupational name for a steward or official, deriving from "baiulivus" in Late Latin. In Scotland the word bailie, rather than bailiff is still used as the title for an officer in the courts.

Early Origins of the Bailey family

The surname Bailey was first found in Northumberland. However, there is still great controversy over the earliest origins of the name. There was great popular belief that the name was changed from Balliol, due to the unpopularity of the two Scottish Kings of that name. However, many historians, such as Bain, find no evidence for such a change, and cite very early instances of the name Baillie, such as William de Bailli, who appeared as a juror on an inquest concerning forfeited lands in Lothian around 1311-12. 2

Early records of the Baillie Clan indicate that the aforementioned William de Bailli was also known as Baillie of Hoperig, who acquired the lands of Lamington in Lanarkshire. His son William was granted a charter confirming ownership of these same lands in 1358. Alexander, the eldest grandson of William and two brothers fled the country after they had beaten and killed their tutor. After serving in the army, Alexander received the lands of Dunain and Dochfour, and was appointed the Constable of Inverness. Another brother of Alexander's married a daughter of Sir Patrick Hume's in 1492, and from this union descended the Baillies of Jerviswood.

Early History of the Bailey family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bailey research. Another 188 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1240, 1292, 1296, 1308, 1332, 1338, 1585, 1587, 1589, 1610, 1611, 1630, 1632, 1634, 1644, 1648, 1657, 1664, 1667, 1671, 1684, 1691, 1701, 1719, 1720, 1721, 1738, 1740, 1741, 1744, 1749, 1764, 1872 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Bailey History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bailey Spelling Variations

The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries. For that reason, spelling variations are common among many Anglo-Norman names. The shape of the English language was frequently changed with the introduction of elements of Norman French, Latin, and other European languages; even the spelling of literate people's names were subsequently modified. Bailey has been recorded under many different variations, including Baillie, Bailey, Bailie, Bayly, Bayley, Bailley, Baly, Ballye, Bayllie and many more.

Early Notables of the Bailey family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

Thomas Bailey (Bayly) (died c. 1657) was a 17th-century English religious controversialist, a Royalist Church of England clergyman who converted to Roman Catholicism

Bailey World Ranking

In the United States, the name Bailey is the 60^th most popular surname with an estimated 286,005 people with that name. 3 However, in Canada, the name Bailey is ranked the 180^th most popular surname with an estimated 20,095 people with that name. 4 And in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Bailey is the 114^th popular surname with an estimated 306 people with that name. 5 Australia ranks Bailey as 82^nd with 29,313 people. 6 New Zealand ranks Bailey as 93^rd with 4,154 people. 7 The United Kingdom ranks Bailey as 65^th with 69,972 people. 8 South Africa ranks Bailey as 663^rd with 10,265 people. 9

Migration of the Bailey family to Ireland

Some of the Bailey family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 174 words (12 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bailey migration to the United States +

To escape the uncertainty of the political and religious uncertainty found in England, many English families boarded ships at great expense to sail for the colonies held by Britain. The passages were expensive, though, and the boats were unsafe, overcrowded, and ridden with disease. Those who were hardy and lucky enough to make the passage intact were rewarded with land, opportunity, and social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families went on to be important contributors to the young nations of Canada and the United States where they settled. Baileys were some of the first of the immigrants to arrive in North America:

Bailey Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Mary Bailey, who was listed as being in Virginia in 1619
William Bailey, who landed in Virginia in 1622 10
Jonas Bailey, who landed in Maine in 1634 10
Richard Bailey, aged 15, who landed in Massachusetts in 1635 10
Thomas Bailey, who arrived in Massachusetts in 1635 10
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Bailey Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

LeSt. Bailey, who arrived in Louisiana in 1719 10
Robert Bailey, who arrived in Virginia in 1755 10
William Bailey, who arrived in America in 1760 10
Benjamin Bailey, who arrived in North Carolina in 1776 10

Bailey Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

James Bailey, who arrived in America in 1805 10
Esther Bailey, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1811 10
James Bailey, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1812 10
William Bailey, who landed in Connecticut in 1812 10
Robin Bailey, who landed in America in 1812 10
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Bailey Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Mr. William Bailey, (b. 1843), aged 60, Cornish surveyor, from Penzance, Cornwall travelling aboard the ship "Oceanic" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 14th October 1903 11
Mr. Samuel I Bailey, (b. 1866), aged 37, Cornish engineer travelling aboard the ship "Philadelphia" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 18th January 1903 11
Miss Edith Bailey, (b. 1880), aged 24, Cornish settler travelling aboard the ship "St Paul" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 5th June 1904 en route to Houghton, Michigan, USA 11
Mr. James Bailey, (b. 1884), aged 21, Cornish miner, from Camborne, Cornwall travelling aboard the ship "St Louis" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 9th July 1905 en route to Painsdale, Michigan, USA 11
Mr. Stanley Bailey, (b. 1884), aged 21, Cornish machinist and engineer, from Camborne, Cornwall travelling aboard the ship "Etruria" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 21st May 1905 en route to Silverton, Colorado, USA 11

Bailey migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Bailey Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Thorns Bailey, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1750
John Bailey, who was a fisherman living in Trinity, Newfoundland in 1758
Joseph Bailey, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1760
Joseph Bailey, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1761
Mr. Benjamin Bailey U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1783 12
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Bailey Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Miss. Eliza Bailey, aged 3 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Christiana" departing from the port of Londonderry, Ireland but died on Grosse Isle on 6th June 1847 13
Mr. George Bailey, who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Goliah" departing from the port of Liverpool, England but died on Grosse Isle in 1847 13
Miss. Ann Bailey, aged 16 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Ajax" departing 16th May 1847 from Liverpool, England; the ship arrived on 23rd June 1847 but she died on board 14
Ms. Ann Bailey, aged 21 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Ajax" departing 16th May 1847 from Liverpool, England; the ship arrived on 23rd June 1847 but she died on board 14
Mr. George Bailey, aged 26 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Broom" departing 13th June 1847 from Liverpool, England; the ship arrived on 6th August 1847 but he died on board 14
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Bailey Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century

Mr. Bailey, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1907

Bailey migration to Australia +

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

Bailey Settlers in Australia in the 18th Century

Mr. William Bailey, English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Barwell" in September 1797, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 15

Bailey Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Miss Elizabeth Bailey, English convict who was convicted in Kingston Upon Hull, Yorkshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Canada" in March 1810, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 16
Mr. James Bailey, British Convict who was convicted in Southampton, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Earl Spencer" in May 1813, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 17
Mr. Henry Bailey, English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for life, transported aboard the "Atlas" on 16th January 1816, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 18
Mr. John Bailey, English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for life, transported aboard the "Atlas" on 16th January 1816, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 18
Mr. Edward Bailey, British Convict who was convicted in Warwick, Warwickshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Batavia" in October 1817, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 19
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Bailey 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:

Bailey Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mrs C Bailey, who landed in Auckland, New Zealand in 1840
Mr Bailey, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1841 aboard the ship Antilla
Thomas Bailey, aged 28, a cabinet maker, who arrived in Port Nicholson aboard the ship "Gertrude" in 1841 20
Mary Bailey, aged 26, who arrived in Port Nicholson aboard the ship "Gertrude" in 1841 20
Mr. Bailey, British settler travelling from Cape of Good Hope, South Africa aboard the ship "Antilla" arriving in Wellington, New Zealand on 8th December 1841 21
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Bailey (post 1700) +

Pearl Mae Bailey (1918-1990), American actress, singer and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom
John Ira Bailey ASC (1942-2023), American cinematographer and film director
Radcliffe Bailey (1968-2023), American contemporary visual artist noted for mixed-media, paint, and sculpture works
William Wayne "Billy" Bailey Jr. (1957-2023), American politician, Member of the West Virginia Senate (1991-2008), Deputy Secretary of the West Virginia Department of Veterans Assistance
James Hopkins "Jim" Bailey (1934-2022), American Major League Baseball player for the Cincinnati Reds during the 1959 season
Elizabeth Ellery Bailey (1938-2022), American economist, John C. Hower Professor of Business and Public Policy, at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania
Vivian Mildred Bailey (1918-2022), née Corbett, an American World War II veteran, civil servant, and volunteer, one of the first African American officers in the Women's Army Corps and served as a commander of the Women's Colored Detachment
Barry Bailey (d. 2022), American musician, member of the Atlanta Rhythm Section (ARS) is an American Southern rock band, formed in 1970
Colin James Bailey (1934-2021), British-born American jazz drummer, known for his work with Vince Guaraldi, Dizzy Gillespie, Sarah Vaughan, Monty Budwig, Joe Pass, Chet Baker, Ray Brown and many more
Rasie Michael "Razzy" Bailey (1939-2021), American country music artist, known professionally as Razzy Bailey
... (Another 53 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Bailey family +

Empress of Ireland

Mr. George Bailey, British Fireman from United Kingdom who worked aboard the Empress of Ireland (1914) and survived the sinking 22

Halifax Explosion

Mr. Fred Bailey (1892-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 23

HMS Dorsetshire

Frederick William Bailey (d. 1945), British Leading Stoker aboard the HMS Dorsetshire when she was struck by air bombers and sunk; he died in the sinking 24

HMS Hood

Mr. Leonard W J Bailey (b. 1902), English Ordinary Signalman serving for the Royal Navy from Portsmouth, Hampshire, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 25
Mr. Frederick W Bailey (b. 1918), English Marine serving for the Royal Marine from Halifax, West Yorkshire, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 25

HMS Prince of Wales

Mr. Ernest J Bailey, British Able Bodied Seaman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking 26

HMS Repulse

Mr. Thomas Bailey, British Engine Room Artificer 4th Class, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking 27
Mr. Thomas H Bailey, British Seaman Able Bodied, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking 27
Mr. Walter George Bailey, British Petty Officer Stoker, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and died in the sinking 27

HMS Royal Oak

Edward Richard Bailey (1922-1939), born in Portsmouth, England, British Boy 1st Class with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he died in the sinking 28
Charles William Bailey (1899-1939), born in Scarborough, Yorkshire, England, British Able Seaman with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he died in the sinking 28

RMS Lusitania

Mr. Frederick Richard Bailey, American 3rd Class passenger from Orange, New Jersey, USA, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and survived the sinking by escaping on an swamped lifeboat 29
Mr. Walter George "William" Bailey, Canadian 2nd Class passenger from Nelson, British Columbia, Canada, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking 30
Mrs. Jessie Annie Bailey, (née Hanford), Canadian 2nd Class passenger from Nelson, British Columbia, Canada, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking 30
Miss Ivy Bailey, Canadian 2nd Class passenger from Nelson, British Columbia, Canada, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking 30

RMS Titanic

Mr. Henry Joseph Bailey (1865-1943), aged 43, English Master-at-arms from Southampton, Hampshire who worked aboard the RMS Titanic and survived the sinking escaping on life boat 16 31
Mr. George Francis Bailey (d. 1912), aged 36, English Second Class Saloon Steward from Shepperton, London who worked aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking and was recovered by CS Mackay-Bennett 31
Mr. George W. Bailey (d. 1912), aged 46, English Fireman/Stoker from Woolston, Hampshire who worked aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 31
Mr. Percy Andrew Bailey (d. 1912), aged 18, English Second Class passenger from Penzance, Cornwall who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 31

SS Caribou

Mr. Uriah Bailey, (Urais), Newfoundland passenger going to Trinity East, Newfoundland and Labrador was travelling aboard the railway ferry "SS Caribou" when it was struck by a German submarine torpedo on 14th October 1942, the most significant sinking in Canadian waters at that time, he survived the sinking

USS Arizona

Mr. George Richmond Bailey, American Private First Class from California, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 32

Victoria steamboat disaster

Rosetta Bailey, Canadian passenger who was killed in the Victoria steamboat disaster when the boat capsized in 1881

The Bailey 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: Ubi bene ibi patria
Motto Translation: One's country is where one is well.

Citations +

The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
"Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
"UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
"Most Common Last Names in South Africa." Forebears, https://forebears.io/south-africa/surnames
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retreived 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_ellis_island_1892_on.pdf
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 12)
Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 64)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 29th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/barwell
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 9th December 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/canada
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 8th September 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-spencer
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 14th July 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/atlas
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 30th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/batavia
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 12th December 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
Commemoration Empress of Ireland 2014. (Retrieved 2014, June 17) . Retrieved from http://www.empress2014.ca/seclangen/listepsc1.html
Halifax Explosion Book of Remembrance | Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. (Retrieved 2014, June 23) . Retrieved from https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/halifax-explosion/halifax-explosion-book-remembrance
Force Z Survivors HMS Dorsetshire Crew List, (Retrieved 2018, February 13th), https://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listdorsetshirecrew.html
H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm
HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html
HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html
Ships hit by U-boats crew list HMS Royal Oak (08) - (Retrieved 2018 February, 9th) - retrieved from https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship68.html
Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 7) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/
Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 6) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/
Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html
Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html