Show ContentsTalboys History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Talboys is one of the names that was brought to England in the wave of migration following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Talboys family lived in Lincolnshire. Their name, however, is a reference to Taillebois, Normandy, the family's place of residence prior to the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. Alternatively, the name may be derived from the Old French "taillebosc," meaning "cut wood"; in this case, the name would refer to a wood-cutter. 1

"The surname occurs frequently in Domesday. Ivo Tailgebosch, Lord of Holland, co. Lincoln, married Lucia, sister of the Saxon Earls Edwin and Morcar; and Ralph and Ivo Tailgebosc, Tallebosc, &c., were tenants in Bedfordshire. Other corruptions of this name are Tailboys, Tabois, and Tailbush." 2

Early Origins of the Talboys family

The surname Talboys was first found in Lincolnshire, where "Ivo Tailgebosch, Lord of Holland, married Lucia, sister of the Saxon Earls Edwin and Morcar. " 2

"Ivo Taillebois—evidently a cadet of the same house, was Chamberlain to Robert de Vipont, Lord of Westmorland, in the time of King John, and in 1206 obtained the Royal license to marry the widow of William Bardolph, Elizabeth, daughter and co-heir of William Fitz William, Lord of Cokedale in Northumberland. Among other possessions, he held Hurworth-on-Tees, co. Durham, in her right; and their son again married an heiress. The next, Lucas, Sheriff of Northumberland in 1300, was the grandfather of Henry Tailboys, whose wife Eleanor, daughter and heir of Gilbert de Boroden, brought into the family the lion's share of the great heritage of the Umfrevilles." 3

Early History of the Talboys family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Talboys research. Another 204 words (15 lines of text) covering the years 1000, 1071, 1080, 1086, 1088, 1091, 1092, 1386, 1417, 1421, 1464, 1467, 1477, 1509, 1513, 1517, 1530, 1570 and 1768 are included under the topic Early Talboys History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Talboys 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 Talboys include Tallboys, Tailboys, Tailby, Talpy, Tailbois and many more.

Early Notables of the Talboys family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

  • Sir William Talboys or Tailboys, Earl of Kyme (d. 1464), born before 1417, son and heir of Walter Tailboys of Kyme in Lincolnshire. "Through the families of Barradon and Umfraville he represented the...


Canada Talboys migration to Canada +

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 Talboyss to arrive on North American shores:

Talboys Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Charles Talboys, who was living in Ontario in 1871

Australia Talboys migration to Australia +

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

Talboys Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. William Talboys, English convict who was convicted in Gloucester, Gloucestershire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Atlas" on 27th April 1833, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 4

Contemporary Notables of the name Talboys (post 1700) +

  • Steve Talboys (1966-2019), English football midfielder from Bristol
  • David Alphonso Talboys (1790-1840), English bookseller who held a business in Bedford, but later in Oxford
  • Graeme K Talboys (b. 1953), English writer and teacher
  • Keith Talboys (b. 1931), English cricketer
  • Sir Brian Edward Talboys CH, KCB, AC (1921-2012), New Zealand politician, Deputy Prime Minister


  1. Charnock, Richard, Stephen, Ludus Patronymicus of The Etymology of Curious Surnames. London: Trubner & Co., 60 Paternoster Row, 1868. Print.
  2. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  3. Cleveland, Dutchess of The Battle Abbey Roll with some Account of the Norman Lineages. London: John Murray, Abermarle Street, 1889. Print. Volume 3 of 3
  4. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 14th July 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/atlas


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