Show ContentsHeliburton History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Heliburton family

The surname Heliburton was first found in Dirleton, a parish, in the county of Haddington in East Lothian (formerly Berwickshire.) "The ancient manors of Golyn and Dirleton, which latter gives to the parish its present name, belonged, together with the lands of Fenton, in the early part of the twelfth century, to the family of Vaux or De Vallibus, and in 1340, passed, by marriage with the daughter and heiress of William De Vallibus, to Sir John Halyburton, whose grandson, Sir Walter, lord high treasurer of Scotland, was created Lord Halyburton in 1448. On the decease of the sixth lord Halyburton, the lands were conveyed by his daughter and heiress Janet, in marriage, to William, second lord Ruthven, by whose descendant, John, Earl of Gowrie, they were forfeited to the crown in 1600." 1

The family are of "territorial origin from the lands of Haliburton in Berwickshire. Near the end of the twelfth century David filius Tructe (or Truite or Trute) granted the church of his vill of Halyburton "cum tofta et crofta et duabus bouatis terre" to the monks of Kelso (Kelso, 268). About the year 1230 this grant was confirmed by Walter, the son of David, son of Truite, and about 1261. Philip de Halyburton again confirmed the gift of the church of Halyburtun and pertinents to the Abbey of Kelso as formerly made by David filius Trute his proavus and Walter his avus." 2

"The principal old family of this name was Halyburton, of that Ilk, in the shire of Berwick. The Chappel of Halyburton was a pendicle of the church of Greenlaw. The family are mentioned so early as the reign of King Malcolm IV." 3

Sir John Haliburton of Dirleton (d. 1392), seems to be one of the progenitors of the family with the most note. He was father of Sir Walter de Haliburton, 1st Lord Haliburton of Dirleton (d. c. 1449), Lord High Treasurer of Scotland. This Scottish Lordship of Parliament was held in the family until Janet Haliburton, 7th Lady Haliburton of Dirleton (d, c. 1560.)

Haliburton, Ontario was named after Thomas Chandler Haliburton (1796-1865), a Nova Scotia politician, judge, and author.

Early History of the Heliburton family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Heliburton research. Another 255 words (18 lines of text) covering the years 1200, 1242, 1260, 1296, 1300, 1305, 1309, 1362, 1367, 1392, 1425, 1432, 1447, 1452, 1459, 1466, 1490, 1492, 1500, 1502, 1506, 1507, 1518, 1560, 1563, 1589, 1616, 1635, 1662, 1665, 1674, 1678, 1682, 1689, 1712 and 1715 are included under the topic Early Heliburton History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Heliburton Spelling Variations

The name, Heliburton, occurred in many references, and from time to time, it was spelt Halliburton, Haliburton, Haleyburton, Hollyburton, Halyburton, Halburton, Heliburton and many more.

Early Notables of the Heliburton family

Notable amongst the family name during their early history was Sir John Haliburton of Dirleton, East Lothian (d. 1392); and his son, Sir Walter de Haliburton, 1st Lord Haliburton of Dirleton (died c. 1447), Lord High Treasurer of Scotland; John Haliburton, 2nd Lord Haliburton of Dirleton (died c. 1452); Patrick Haliburton, 3rd Lord Haliburton of Dirleton (died c. 1459) George Haliburton, 4th Lord Haliburton of Dirleton (died c. 1492); James Haliburton, 5th Lord Haliburton of Dirleton (died c. 1502); Patrick Haliburton, 6th Lord Haliburton of...
Another 85 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Heliburton Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Heliburton family

The New World beckoned settlers from the Scottish-English borders. They sailed aboard the armada of sailing ships known as the "White Sails" which plied the stormy Atlantic. Some called them, less romantically, the "coffin ships." Among the early settlers bearing the Heliburton surname who came to North America were: Mr. Halliburton who settled in Boston Massachusetts in 1765; Lawden Halliburton settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1774; Charles Halyburton settled in Philadelphia in 1864. John Peebles Haliburton who was born in Sidney, Nova Scotia, in 1850.



The Heliburton 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: Majores sequor
Motto Translation: I follow my ancestors.


  1. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of Scotland. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  2. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
  3. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.


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