Contents [hide]

Pilbeam History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Motto Citations

Pilbeam History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The name Pilbeam came to England with the ancestors of the Pilbeam family in the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Pilbeam 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 Pilbeam family

The surname Pilbeam 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 Pilbeam family

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

Pilbeam Spelling Variations

Multitudes of spelling variations are a hallmark of Anglo Norman names. Most of these names evolved in the 11th and 12th century, in the time after the Normans introduced their own Norman French language into a country where Old and Middle English had no spelling rules and the languages of the court were French and Latin. To make matters worse, medieval scribes spelled words according to sound, so names frequently appeared differently in the various documents in which they were recorded. The name was spelled Pilbeam, Philbeam, MacPhilbin, Pilbean, Philbean, Pilbin and many more.

Early Notables of the Pilbeam family

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

Migration of the Pilbeam family to Ireland

Some of the Pilbeam 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.

Pilbeam migration to Canada +

Because of this political and religious unrest within English society, many people decided to immigrate to the colonies. Families left for Ireland, North America, and Australia in enormous numbers, traveling at high cost in extremely inhospitable conditions. The New World in particular was a desirable destination, but the long voyage caused many to arrive sick and starving. Those who made it, though, were welcomed by opportunities far greater than they had known at home in England. Many of these families went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Pilbeam or a variant listed above:

Pilbeam Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

David Pilbeam, who was recorded in the census of Ontario, Canada in 1871

Pilbeam migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Pilbeam Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Robert Pilbeam, aged 32, who arrived in South Australia in 1849 aboard the ship "Trafalgar" 5
Robert Pilbeam, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Trafalgar" in 1849 5
Harriet Pilbeam, aged 14, British settler who arrived in Adelaide, South Australia aboard the "Hesperus" in 1883
Julia Pilbeam, aged 20, British settler who arrived in Adelaide, South Australia aboard the "Hesperus" in 1883
John Pilbeam, aged 12, British settler who arrived in Adelaide, South Australia aboard the "Hesperus" in 1883

Pilbeam 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:

Pilbeam Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. John Pilbeam, British settler travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Kingston" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 29th December 1858 6

Contemporary Notables of the name Pilbeam (post 1700) +

David Pilbeam, American Henry Ford II Professor of the Social Sciences at Harvard University
Pamela M. Pilbeam (b. 1941), English historian, lecturer and professor emeritus at the Royal Holloway, University of London
Mike Pilbeam, English founder of Pilbeam Racing Designs, designers and builders of racing cars in Bourne, Lincolnshire in 1975
Sally Pilbeam (b. 1978), Austrlian arm amputee paratriathlete, Gold medal winner at the 2014 World Triathlon Series Final
Reginald Byron Jarvis "Rex" Pilbeam (1907-1999), Australian member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly
Harriette Pilbeam (b. 1993), known professionally as Hatchie, Australian singer-songwriter and musician
Nova Margery Pilbeam (1919-2015), British film and stage actress, known for her leading roles in two Alfred Hitchcock movies of the 1930s

The Pilbeam Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Ung roy, ung foy, ung loy
Motto Translation: One king, one faith, one law.

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)
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) The TRAFALGAR 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849Trafalgar.htm
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html