Show ContentsWhaliborne History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Whaliborne family

The surname Whaliborne was first found in Cornwall where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor of Whalesborough.

"The manor of Lan-car, Lancarfe, or Lancoff, which was held of the honour of Bodmin, or of St. Petroc, was, in the reign of Richard II. in the Whalesborowe family, who then held it under the Bevilles, and retained it for several succeeding generations." 1 "Tresidor, which was formerly called a manor, belonged in ancient times to the Whalesborowe family." 1

"The manor of Perran-Uthnoe belonged at a very early period to the ancient family of Walesborowe; from whom it passed by marriage to the ancestor of Sir John Trevelyan the present proprietor." 1

Early History of the Whaliborne family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Whaliborne research. Another 113 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1079, 1510 and 1600 are included under the topic Early Whaliborne History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Whaliborne Spelling Variations

Cornish surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. The frequent changes in surnames are due to the fact that the Old and Middle English languages lacked definite spelling rules. The official court languages, which were Latin and French, were also influential on the spelling of a surname. Since the spelling of surnames was rarely consistent in medieval times, and scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded rather than adhering to any specific spelling rules, it was common to find the same individual referred to with different spellings of their surname in the ancient chronicles. Moreover, a large number of foreign names were brought into England, which accelerated and accentuated the alterations to the spelling of various surnames. Lastly, spelling variations often resulted from the linguistic differences between the people of Cornwall and the rest of England. The Cornish spoke a unique Brythonic Celtic language which was first recorded in written documents during the 10th century. However, they became increasingly Anglicized, and Cornish became extinct as a spoken language in 1777, although it has been revived by Cornish patriots in the modern era. The name has been spelled Whalisborow, Whalisborough, Walesborough, Walesborough, Walesborrow, Walisborrow, Walisbrow, Wallsbrow, Wallisboro, Whallisborro, Wallisboro and many more.

Early Notables of the Whaliborne family

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

Migration of the Whaliborne family

An investigation of the immigration and passenger lists has revealed a number of people bearing the name Whaliborne: the name represented in many forms and recorded from the mid 17th century in the great migration from Europe. Migrants settled in the eastern seaboard from Newfoundland, to Maine, to Virginia, the Carolinas, and to the islands..



  1. Hutchins, Fortescue, The History of Cornwall, from the Earliest Records and Traditions to the Present Time. London: William Penaluna, 1824. Print


Houseofnames.com on Facebook