Show ContentsLaybourne History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The ancestors of the Laybourne surname lived among the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. The name comes from when they lived in the village of Leybourne. Laybourne 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 Laybourne family

The surname Laybourne 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 Laybourne family

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

Laybourne Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, French and other languages became incorporated into English through the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Laybourne include Labern, Labourne, Laborn, Labron, Laburn, Layburn, Layborn, Layborne, Laybourn, Laybourne, Leiburn, Leybourne, Leyborne, Leyburn, Leyburne and many more.

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

Migration of the Laybourne family to Ireland

Some of the Laybourne 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 Laybourne family

A great wave of immigration to the New World was the result of the enormous political and religious disarray that struck England at that time. Families left for the New World in extremely large numbers. The long journey was the end of many immigrants and many more arrived sick and starving. Still, those who made it were rewarded with an opportunity far greater than they had known at home in England. These emigrant families went on to make significant contributions to these emerging colonies in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers carried this name or one of its variants: 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.


Contemporary Notables of the name Laybourne (post 1700) +

  • Roxie Collie Simpson Laybourne (1910-2003), American ornithologist from Fayetteville, North Carolina
  • Geraldine Laybourne (b. 1947), American vice-president of Disney/ABC Television (1996-), founder of Oxygen Media, Chairman and CEO until it was sold in 2007
  • John Sylvester "Jack" Laybourne (b. 1927), English former footballer who represented Great Britain at the 1956 Summer Olympics
  • Rachel Laybourne (b. 1982), British volleyball player at the 2012 Summer Olympics
  • Rear-Admiral Alan Laybourne, British Royal Navy officer


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


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