Show ContentsLaybourn History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The ancestry of the name Laybourn dates from the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. It comes from when the family lived in the village of Leybourne. Laybourn 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 Laybourn family

The surname Laybourn 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 Laybourn family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Laybourn 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 Laybourn History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Laybourn Spelling Variations

Spelling variations in names were a common occurrence before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate spelled their names differently as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Laybourn have been found, including Labern, Labourne, Laborn, Labron, Laburn, Layburn, Layborn, Layborne, Laybourn, Laybourne, Leiburn, Leybourne, Leyborne, Leyburn, Leyburne and many more.

Early Notables of the Laybourn 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 Laybourn Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Laybourn family to Ireland

Some of the Laybourn 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.


Laybourn migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Laybourn Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Adam Laybourn, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Portland" in 1864
  • Mary Ann Laybourn, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Portland" in 1864
  • Susan Laybourn, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Portland" in 1864
  • Margaret Laybourn, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Portland" in 1864
  • Thomas Laybourn, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Portland" in 1864
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Laybourn (post 1700) +

  • George R. Laybourn, American politician, Member of Minnesota State House of Representatives 51st District, 1899-1902; Member of Minnesota State Senate 51st District, 1903-10 2
  • Mrs Elizabeth Laybourn, English Head of Burgess Hill Girls (previously Burgess Hill School for Girls) in 2017
  • Keith Laybourn FRHistS FHEA (b. 1946), British Diamond Jubilee Professor of the University of Huddersfield and Professor of History
  • Vilhelm Laybourn (1885-1955), Danish modern pentathlete at the 1912 Summer Olympics
  • Thomas Laybourn (b. 1977), Danish badminton champion at the 2006 European Badminton Championships


  1. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  2. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 28) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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