Bilney History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

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 West Bilney dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086 where it was listed as Bilenei 2 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

"He was a member of a Norfolk family which took its name from the villages of the same designation in that county. Local historians assert that he was born either at East Bilney or Norwich; but these statements seem to rest on probability rather than definite evidence. " 4

Early History of the Bilney family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bilney research. Another 267 words (19 lines of text) covering the years 1199, 1202, 1216, 1273, 1288, 1327, 1495, 1500, 1531 and 1627 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

Notables of this surname at this time include:

Thomas Bilney (1495-1531), an English religious martyr...

Bilney migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Bilney Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Robert Bilney, English convict who was convicted in Norfolk, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Chapman" on 6th April 1824, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 5
George Bilney, aged 33, who arrived in South Australia in 1849 aboard the ship "Duke of Wellington" 6
Mark Bilney, aged 26, a farm labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1849 aboard the ship "Duke of Wellington" 6
George Bilney, aged 33, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Duke Of Wellington" in 1849 6
Ann Bilney, aged 31, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Duke Of Wellington" in 1849 6
... (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

Historic Events for the Bilney family +

North Sea Flood

Douglas A. N. Bilney, British traveler aboard the ferry "Princess Victoria" killed in the North Sea Flood, a major storm surge in 1953
Rebecca H. T. Bilney, British traveler aboard the ferry "Princess Victoria" killed in the North Sea Flood, a major storm surge in 1953
Geoffrey Bilney, British traveler aboard the ferry "Princess Victoria" who survived the North Sea Flood, a major storm surge in 1953

Citations +

Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
Convict Records of Australia. Retreived 26th January 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/chapman
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