Billingsly History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Etymology of Billingsly

What does the name Billingsly mean?

The surname Billingsly claims descent from Billingsley, a parish, in the union of Bridgnorth, hundred of Stottesden, S. division of Salop (Shropshire.) "Under the name Billigesleage, historians mention this place as the scene of a congress held between King Harold, and Griffin, Prince of Wales, at which they engaged to observe mutual peace and amity. " 1

Early Origins of the Billingsly family

The surname Billingsly was first found in Shropshire at Billingsley (Bylga’s glade). 2 3 4

Early History of the Billingsly family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Billingsly research. Another 54 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1538, 1551, 1591, 1606, 1618, 1626, 1633, 1637, 1644, 1648, 1661, 1667, 1684, 1709 and 1722 are included under the topic Early Billingsly History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Billingsly Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Billingsly are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. Scribes and monks in the Middle Ages spelled names they sounded, so it is common to find several variations that refer to a single person. The variations of the name Billingsly include: Billingsley, Billingsly, Byllingsley and others.

Early Notables of the Billingsly family

Sir John Billingsley; and Sir Henry Billingsley (c. 1538-1606), Lord Mayor of London and the first translator of Euclid into English. he was the son of Roger Billingsley of Canterbury. "He was admitted a Lady Margaret scholar of St. John's College, Cambridge, in 1551. He is said to have also studied for several years at Oxford, although he never took a degree at either university. " 5 Martin Billingsley born in 1591, (fl. 1618-1637), was a writing-master, "as an inscription round his portrait, prefixed to his 'Pens Excellencie,' but where he was born, or of whom, there is no evidence. 5 Nicholas Billingsley...
Another 155 words (11 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Billingsly Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Billingsly migration to the United States +

Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Billingsly or a variant listed above:

Billingsly Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

John Billingsly, who arrived in Maryland in 1652 6
James Billingsly, who landed in Maryland in 1656 6
Thomas Billingsly, who arrived in Maryland in 1656 6
Sarah Billingsly, who landed in Maryland in 1658 6
William Billingsly, who landed in Virginia in 1662 6
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Sources +

Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
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)