Filbey History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Early Origins of the Filbey family

The surname Filbey was first found in Norfolk at Filby, a parish, in the East and West Flegg incorporation, hundred of East Flegg. 1 This parish dates back to before the Domesday Book of 1086 where it was listed as Filebey. 2 Literally the place name means "farmstead or village of a man called Fili or Fila." 3

So, conjecturally, the surname is descended from the tenant of the village and lands of Filby, held by Thorold, Sheriff of Lincolnshire, from William de Warrenne, a Norman Baron, who was recorded in the Domesday Book census of 1086. At the time of the Domesday the village contained 10 salthouses and was surrounded by Filbey Broad.

Early History of the Filbey family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Filbey research. Another 75 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1202, 1273, 1280, 1315, 1325, 1557, 1581, 1582 and 1886 are included under the topic Early Filbey History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Filbey Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, Anglo-Norman surnames like Filbey are characterized by many spelling variations. 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. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages such as Norman French and Latin, even literate people regularly changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Filbey include Filby, Filbey, Filbee, Filbie, Philby, Philbey, Phillbee, Fylbey, Fylby and many more.

Early Notables of the Filbey family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was William Filbie (c.1557-1582), an English Roman Catholic priest from Oxfordshire. " On 25 March 1581 he was ordained priest in the church of St. Mary at Rheims, by the bishop of Châlons-sur-Marne, and soon afterwards he returned to England upon the mission. He was apprehended at Henley while incautiously attempting to speak to Father Edmund Campion, who was being conducted to London with other prisoners (Simpson, Edmund Campion, p. 228). They were all committed to the Tower, 22 July 1581. Filbie...
Another 88 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Filbey Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Filbey migration to Australia +

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

Filbey Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Robert Filbey, aged 22, who arrived in South Australia in 1857 aboard the ship "Monsoon"

Citations +

Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)