Wilberfose History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The name Wilberfose reached English shores for the first time with the ancestors of the Wilberfose family as they migrated following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Wilberfose family lived in Yorkshire, at Wilberfosse.

Early Origins of the Wilberfose family

The surname Wilberfose was first found in Yorkshire where they were Lords of the manor of Wilberforce, and descended from Phillip of Kyme, Lord of Wilberfosse. The parish of Wilberfoss(e) in the East Riding of Yorkshire was home to the family. "This place, from the time of the Conquest, was the property of the Wilberforce family, from which was descended the late William Wilberforce, the distinguished philanthropist; but the ancient family mansion and the estates were sold in 1710, and the lands are now divided among several proprietors, of whom Col. Wyndham is lord of the manor." 1

Early History of the Wilberfose family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Wilberfose research. Another 109 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1797 and 1833 are included under the topic Early Wilberfose History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Wilberfose Spelling Variations

Anglo-Norman names tend to be marked by an enormous number of spelling variations. This is largely due to the fact that Old and Middle English lacked any spelling rules when Norman French was introduced in the 11th century. The languages of the English courts at that time were French and Latin. These various languages mixed quite freely in the evolving social milieu. The final element of this mix is that medieval scribes spelled words according to their sounds rather than any definite rules, so a name was often spelled in as many different ways as the number of documents it appeared in. The name was spelled Wilberforce, Wilberfoss, Wilberfosse and many more.

Early Notables of the Wilberfose family

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

Migration of the Wilberfose family

Because of the political and religious discontent in England, families began to migrate abroad in enormous numbers. Faced with persecution and starvation at home, the open frontiers and generally less oppressive social environment of the New World seemed tantalizing indeed to many English people. The trip was difficult, and not all made it unscathed, but many of those who did get to Canada and the United States made important contributions to the young nations in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers with Wilberfose name or one of its variants: William Wilberforce settled in Virginia in 1730.

The Wilberfose 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: Nos non nobis
Motto Translation: We not for ourselves.

Citations +

Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.