The present generation of the Bilney 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 the parish of
Bilney in
Norfolk. The name literally means
the dweller by the stream.Early Origins of the Bilney family
The surname Bilney was first found in
Norfolk at East Bilney, a parish, in the union of Mitford and Launditch,
hundred of Launditch. The place name literally means "island near a ridge," or "island of a man called Bil(l)a," from the Old English word "bile," or the Old English
personal name.
[1]CITATION[CLOSE]
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4) West Bilney dates back to the
Domesday Book of 1086 where it was listed as Bilenei
[2]CITATION[CLOSE]
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8) and East Bilney dates back to 1254 when it was first listed a Billney. "Thomas Bilney
(c. 1495-1531), a learned divine, who was burnt at Norwich, in the year 1531, for preaching against popery, is said to have been born here."
[3]CITATION[CLOSE]
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Early History of the Bilney family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bilney research.
Another 533 words (38 lines of text) covering the years 1199, 1216, 1202, 1273, 1288, 1327, 1500, 1627, 1495 and 1531 are included under the topic Early Bilney History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Bilney 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 Bilney include Bilney, Bilnie, Bylyne, Bilneye, Bilnye, Bilnay and others.
Early Notables of the Bilney family (pre 1700)
Another 28 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Bilney Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Bilney family to the New World and Oceana
Some of the first settlers of this family name were:
Bilney Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
- George Bilney, aged 33, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Duke Of Wellington" in 1849 [4]CITATION[CLOSE]
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) The DUKE OF WELLINGTON 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849Duke%20of%20Wellington.htm - Ann Bilney, aged 31, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Duke Of Wellington" in 1849 [4]CITATION[CLOSE]
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) The DUKE OF WELLINGTON 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849Duke%20of%20Wellington.htm - Mary J. Bilney, aged 12, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Duke Of Wellington" in 1849 [4]CITATION[CLOSE]
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) The DUKE OF WELLINGTON 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849Duke%20of%20Wellington.htm - Daniel Bilney, aged 10, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Duke Of Wellington" in 1849 [4]CITATION[CLOSE]
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) The DUKE OF WELLINGTON 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849Duke%20of%20Wellington.htm - Sarah A. Bilney, aged 8, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Duke Of Wellington" in 1849 [4]CITATION[CLOSE]
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) The DUKE OF WELLINGTON 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849Duke%20of%20Wellington.htm - ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Contemporary Notables of the name Bilney (post 1700)
- Thomas Bilney (1495-1531), English clergyman