| ![Show Contents]() Philburn History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
Etymology of PhilburnWhat does the name Philburn mean? The name Philburn was brought to England in the wave of migration that followed the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Philburn 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 Philburn familyThe surname Philburn 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. (O'Hart) Meanwhile in England, the main branch Pilbeam or Philbeam, moved back to Sussex and settled there. Early History of the Philburn familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Philburn research. Another 95 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1172, 1327 and 1347 are included under the topic Early Philburn History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Philburn Spelling VariationsSpelling variations in names were a common occurrence in the eras before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate regularly changed the spellings of their names as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Philburn have been found, including Pilbeam, Philbeam, MacPhilbin, Pilbean, Philbean, Pilbin and many more. Early Notables of the Philburn familyMore information is included under the topic Early Philburn Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Philburn family to IrelandSome of the Philburn 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 Philburn familyFor many English families, the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. For such families, the shores of Ireland, Australia, and the New World beckoned. They left their homeland at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. Many arrived after the long voyage sick, starving, and without a penny. But even those were greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. Numerous English settlers who arrived in the United States and Canada at this time went on to make important contributions to the developing cultures of those countries. Many of those families went on to make significant contributions to the rapidly developing colonies in which they settled. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Philburn were among those contributors: 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..
- 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
 |
