Show ContentsLaybirn History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The origins of the Laybirn name lie with England's ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. It comes from when the family lived in the village of Leybourne. Laybirn is a habitation name from the broad category of surnames that were derived from place-names. They were derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads. Other local names are derived from the names of houses, manors, estates, regions, and entire counties.

Early Origins of the Laybirn family

The surname Laybirn was first found in Kent at Leybourne, a parish, in the union of Malling, hundred of Larkfield, lathe of Aylesford. "There are considerable remains of a castle, consisting of a gateway flanked by circular towers, various arches, walls, &c., and traces of the moat by which it was surrounded; part of the ruin has long been converted into a dwelling-house." 1 A later branch of the family was found at Ashton with Stodday in Lancashire. "Ashton Hall, once the seat of the knightly family of Leyburne, and now the property of the Duke of Hamilton, is a quadrangular edifice, with a projecting wing to the east, and a square tower with angular turrets on the west; it was probably erected in the fourteenth century." 1

Early History of the Laybirn family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Laybirn research. Another 266 words (19 lines of text) covering the years 1086, 1192, 1299, 1488, 1593, 1600, 1615, 1626, 1677, 1685, 1688, 1702, 1716 and 1770 are included under the topic Early Laybirn History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Laybirn Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years, the English language had no fast system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations are commonly found in early Anglo-Saxon surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Laybirn were recorded, including Labern, Labourne, Laborn, Labron, Laburn, Layburn, Layborn, Layborne, Laybourn, Laybourne, Leiburn, Leybourne, Leyborne, Leyburn, Leyburne and many more.

Early Notables of the Laybirn family

Distinguished members of the family include Sir Roger de Leiburn, summoned to the English Parliament in 1299; George Leyburn (1593-1677), an English Catholic priest, President of the English College; John Leyburn (1615-1702), an English Roman...
Another 34 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Laybirn Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Laybirn family to Ireland

Some of the Laybirn family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 39 words (3 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Laybirn family

To escape oppression and starvation at that time, many English families left for the "open frontiers" of the New World with all its perceived opportunities. In droves people migrated to the many British colonies, those in North America in particular, paying high rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Although many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, those who did see the shores of North America perceived great opportunities before them. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Research into various historical records revealed some of first members of the Laybirn family emigrate to North America: T. Labourne, who sailed to Baltimore in 1820; Eugene Laborne, who arrived in San Francisco in 1872; George Labourne, who was on record in Halton County, Ontario, in 1877.



  1. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.


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