Show ContentsIlingword History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The ancient roots of the Ilingword family name are in the Anglo-Saxon culture. The name Ilingword comes from when the family lived in the chapelry of Illingworth in the parish of Halifax in the West Riding of Yorkshire. This place-name was originally derived from the Old English word Illinword, which refers to an enclosure.

Early Origins of the Ilingword family

The surname Ilingword was first found in Yorkshire at Illingworth, a village that dates back to 1276 when it was first listed as Illingworthe. 1

Early History of the Ilingword family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ilingword research. Another 50 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Ilingword History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ilingword Spelling Variations

One relatively recent invention that did much to standardize English spelling was the printing press. However, before its invention even the most literate people recorded their names according to sound rather than spelling. The spelling variations under which the name Ilingword has appeared include Illingworth, Ilingworth, Illingsworth and others.

Early Notables of the Ilingword family

More information is included under the topic Early Ilingword Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Ilingword family

At this time, the shores of the New World beckoned many English families that felt that the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. Thousands left England at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. A great portion of these settlers never survived the journey and even a greater number arrived sick, starving, and without a penny. The survivors, however, were often greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. These English settlers made significant contributions to those colonies that would eventually become the United States and Canada. An examination of early immigration records and passenger ship lists revealed that people bearing the name Ilingword arrived in North America very early: Joshua Illingsworth settled in Newcastle county in Delaware in 1852; William and James Illingworth settled in Philadelphia in 1834 and 1866.



  1. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)


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