Philben Surname History

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

Philben is a name that was carried to England in the great wave of migration from Normandy following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Philben family lived in Sussex, at the town of Pilbeam, which is now lost to the map. 1

Another source claims the name was derived from "A species of tree which I cannot identify, probably so named from its suitableness for the shaft of a spear; Anglo-Saxon pyl. I have not met with this name out of the county of Sussex, where it is sometimes pronounced Pilbin." 2

And another source notes the name to “barker of trees.” It is not a trade name at all, but purely local, derived from the Kent manor of Peltebeme. Possibly the peeling of trees may come into it, for the manorial landmark may have been some “peeled tree.” 3

Early Origins of the Philben family

The surname Philben was first found in Sussex where Adam de Peltebhem was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of 1296. The same rolls but at a later date included Thomas Peltebem in 1327. 1

There is a presumed close relationship to the Burke family, and Philbin, which later became Pilbeam, was descended from the grandson of Richard de Burgo (Burke) Governor of Ireland in 1219 whose name was Philipin. In Ireland they were recognized as 'English' and some branches of this family adopted that name also. Others adopted the name MacPhilbin. The variant Phelippon was listed as an early Huguenot name in Ireland. 4

Meanwhile in England, the main branch Pilbeam or Philbeam, moved back to Sussex and settled there.

Early History of the Philben family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Philben research. Another 95 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1172, 1327 and 1347 are included under the topic Early Philben History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Philben Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, Norman French and other languages became incorporated into English throughout the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Philben include Pilbeam, Philbeam, MacPhilbin, Pilbean, Philbean, Pilbin and many more.

Early Notables of the Philben family

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

Migration of the Philben family to Ireland

Some of the Philben family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 52 words (4 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 Philben family

In England at this time, the uncertainty of the political and religious environment of the time caused many families to board ships for distant British colonies in the hopes of finding land and opportunity, and escaping persecution. The voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, though, and many arrived in North America sick, starved, and destitute. Those who did make it, however, were greeted with greater opportunities and freedoms that they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make important contributions to the young nations in which they settled. Early immigration records have shown some of the first Philbens to arrive on North American shores: Michael Philbin, who settled in Baltimore, Md, in 1834; John Pilburn, who settled in Texas in 1835; and David Pilbeam, who was recorded in the census of Ontario, Canada in 1871..

Citations +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
O'Hart, John, Irish Pedigrees 5th Edition in 2 Volumes. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1976. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0737-4)