Billingsly History, Family Crest & Coats of ArmsEarly Origins of the Billingsly familyThe surname Billingsly was first found in Shropshire, where they held a family seat from ancient times, long before the Norman Conquest in 1066. Early History of the Billingsly familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Billingsly research. Another 54 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 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 VariationsIt 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 familyDistinguished members of the family include Sir John Billingsley; and Sir Henry Billingsley (died 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. " 1Martin 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...
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
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