Show ContentsKillbant History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Killbant first arose amongst the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. It is derived from their having lived in one of three places: Kilbourne, a township, in the parish of Horsley, union of Belper, hundred of Morleston and Litchurch, in Derbyshire; or Kilburn, a hamlet, in Middlesex; or Kilburn, a parish in the North Riding of Yorkshire. 1

It is generally thought that the Yorkshire parish is the oldest as it was listed in the Domesday Book of 1086 as Chileburne. 2 The Middlesex (Greater London) parish dates back to c. 1130 when it was known as Cuneburna and finally the Derbyshire parish was known as Kileburn in 1179. All were derived from the Old English "stream by a kiln 3 or "stream of a man called Cylla." 4

Early Origins of the Killbant family

The surname Killbant was first found in Derbyshire where Ralph le Kylburn was listed in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273. 5

A few years later in 1284, Richard de Killeburne was listed in Yorkshire and later again, Thomas de Kilburn was similarly listed there in 1305. 6

Early History of the Killbant family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Killbant research. Another 144 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1273, 1576, 1587, 1605, 1623, 1626, 1746 and 1807 are included under the topic Early Killbant History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Killbant 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 Killbant has appeared include Kilborne, Kilbourn, Kilbourne, Kilburn, Kilburne and others.

Early Notables of the Killbant family

Another 36 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Killbant Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Killbant 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 Killbant arrived in North America very early: Thomas and his wife Frances Kilborne along with children Margaret, Lydia, Joe, Francis, Elizabeth, Margaret, Mary, George, and Thomas, settled in Boston in 1634.



  1. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  2. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  3. Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
  4. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  5. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  6. 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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