The present generation of the Billesdend family is only the most recent to bear a name that dates back to the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. Their name comes from having lived in one of several places called Bilton in the counties of Northumberland, Warwickshire, Essex, or Yorkshire.
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Early Origins of the Billesdend family
The surname Billesdend was first found in Yorkshire at Bilton, a chapelry, in the parish of Swine, union of Skirlaugh, Middle division of the wapentake of Holderness. "This place, called in Domesday Book Biletone, at an early period gave name to a family resident here." 1 As previous mentioned, there are numerous places name Bilton and part of the reason is that the place name literally means "farmstead of a man called Bill or Billa." 2 Bilston(e) is similarly popular with places in Staffordshire and Leicestershire.
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Early History of the Billesdend family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Billesdend research. Another 55 words (4 lines of text) covering the year 1650 is included under the topic Early Billesdend History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
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Billesdend Spelling Variations
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 Billesdend include Bilton, Biltoune, Bilston, Bilson, Bilsden and many more.
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Early Notables of the Billesdend family
More information is included under the topic Early Billesdend Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
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Migration of the Billesdend family
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 Billesdend were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records: John Bilson who settled in Virginia in 1654; Stafford Bilson settled in Virginia in 1653; William Bilson settled in New England in 1752; Henry Billson settled in Philadelphia in 1868..
England
