The name Birneby is part of the ancient legacy of the
Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. It is a product of when the family lived in Barnby Hall, in the North Riding of
Yorkshire. The name of that place is derived from the Old English
personal name Beornwald, which comes from the words
beorn, meaning
young warrior, and
wald, meaning
rule. [1]CITATION[CLOSE]
Hanks, Patricia and Flavia Hodges, A Dictionary of Surnames. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1988. Print. (ISBN 0-19-211592-8) Today, Barnby is also a village and civil parish in the Waveney district of Suffolk.
Early Origins of the Birneby family
The surname Birneby was first found in
Yorkshire, where the earliest record is at Barnby Hall, in the parish of Calthorne, in the east riding of
Yorkshire.
[2]CITATION[CLOSE]
Lowe, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print. "The township anciently belonged to a family of the same name; mention occurring of Robert de Barneby, who held the lands under Peter de Mauley, lord of Mulgrave."
[3]CITATION[CLOSE]
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print. The
Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 lists: Richard de Barneby in Yorkshire; and Henry de Barneby in
Lincolnshire. Later the
Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 listed: Thomas de Barmby; and Thomas de Barnby.
[4]CITATION[CLOSE]
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6) Barnby in the North Riding of
Yorkshire was an ancient
family seat. "The township anciently belonged to a family of the same name; mention occurring of Robert de Barneby, who held the lands under Peter de Mauley, lord of Mulgrave."
[3]CITATION[CLOSE]
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Early History of the Birneby family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Birneby research.
Another 127 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1000 and 1550 are included under the topic Early Birneby History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Birneby Spelling Variations
The first dictionaries that appeared in the last few
hundred years did much to standardize the English language. Before that time,
spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. The language was changing, incorporating pieces of other languages, and the spelling of names changed with it. Birneby has been spelled many different ways, including Barneby, Barnby, Barnaby, Bernaby, Burnaby and many more.
Early Notables of the Birneby family (pre 1700)
More information is included under the topic Early Birneby Notables in all our
PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Birneby family to the New World and Oceana
Thousands of English families in this era began to emigrate the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. Although the passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe, those who made the voyage safely were rewarded with opportunities unavailable to them in their homeland. Research into passenger and immigration lists has revealed some of the very first Birnebys to arrive in North America: John Barnabie who settled in Virginia in 1620; James Barnaby who settled in Virginia in 1640; Sarah Barnaby who settled in Virginia in 1640.
The Birneby Motto
The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.
Motto: Virtute non vi
Motto Translation: By virtue not by force.