Show ContentsGuilbay History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Guilbay family

The surname Guilbay was first found in Lincolnshire at Gilby, a hamlet in the parish of Pilham. 1 However, more records point to Leicestershire where the surname was descended from the tenant of the lands of Galby or Gilby held by Robert Burdet's son from Hugh Grandesnil, a Norman noble who was recorded in the Domesday Book census of 1086.

The earliest record of the family was Geoffrey Gilbe who was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Leicestershire in 1327. A few years later, John Gilby was listed in 1414. 2

Early History of the Guilbay family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Guilbay research. Another 85 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1327, 1414, 1510, 1531, 1535, 1561, 1571, 1585, 1603, 1619 and 1645 are included under the topic Early Guilbay History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Guilbay Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Gilby, Gilbey, Gilbie, Guilbey, Gillbie, Gillby and others.

Early Notables of the Guilbay family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Anthony Gilby (c.1510-1585), an English clergyman and preacher in Leicestershire, known as a radical Puritan and translator of the Geneva Bible. "He was born in Lincolnshire, and educated at Christ's College, Cambridge, where he graduated B.A. 1531 and a M.A. in 1535. He had two sons and two...
Another 55 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Guilbay Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Guilbay family

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: Robert Gilby, who arrived in Barbados in 1634; Jacob Gilby, a servant sent to Virginia in 1666; Thomas Gilbey, who came to Maryland in 1668; Ann Gilby, who arrived in Maryland in 1673.



  1. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  2. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)


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