Billington History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

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 Billington or a variant listed above:

Billington Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

• John Billington who sailed on the "Mayflower" and arrived in Plymouth in 1620 with his wife Eleanor and two sons, Francis and John, and daughter, Ellen

Billington Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

• Harry Edward Billington, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1874 [6]

Billington Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

• James Billington, aged 26, originally from Liverpool, who arrived in New York in 1919 aboard the ship "Belgic" from Liverpool, England [7]

Billington Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

• John Billington, English convict from Staffordshire, who was transported aboard the "Asia" on April 1st, 1822, settling in New South Wales, Australia [8]
• Mr. James Billington, (b. 1817), aged 16, English shoe maker's boy who was convicted in Rutland, England for life for house breaking, transported aboard the "Fairlie" on 14th October 1833, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1893 [9]
• Mr. Joseph Billington, English convict who was convicted in Oxford, Oxfordshire, England for 21 years, transported aboard the "Emerald Isle" on 25th June 1842, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) [10]
• Mr. William Billington, English convict who was convicted in Clerkenwell, London, England for 10 years, transported aboard the "Equestrian" on 30th June 1845, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Island) [11]
• Mr. William Billington, English convict who was convicted in Leicester, Leicestershire, England for 15 year, transported aboard the "Bangalore" on 28th March 1848, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) from Bermuda [12]
• ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Billington Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

• Sarah Billington, aged 22, a housekeeper, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Waipa" in 1876

• Edwin Billington (1882-1928), American winner of a sliver and three bronze Olympic medals for cycling at the 1904 Summer Games
• James Hadley Billington (b. 1929), American Rhodes Scholar and the thirteenth Librarian of the United States Congress
• Ray Allen Billington (1903-1981), American historian, Senior Research Associate at Occidental College (1963-1981)
• Francelia Billington (1895-1924), American silent-screen actress
• William Billington (1827-1884), English dialect writer, born at the Yew Trees, Samlesbury, near Blackburn
• Thomas Billington (d. 1832), English musician from Exeter, a well-known harpsichord and singing master towards the close of the eighteenth century
• Elizabeth Billington (1768-1818), "the greatest singer England has ever produced, was probably born about 1768 in Litchfield Street, Soho" [13]
• Kevin Billington (1934-2021), British film director, who worked in the theatre, film and television from the 1960s
• Mr. DeClan George Billington M.B.E., Irish Managing Director for John Thompson and Sons Ltd, was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire on 29th December 2018 For services to Economic Development in Northern Ireland [14]
• Michael Billington (1941-2005), British film and television actor
• ... (Another 1 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)