Billinslay History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
The ancestors of the name Billinslay date back to the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. The name is derived from when the Billinslay family lived in or near the parish of Billing, which was located in the diocese of Liverpool. The name of that place is derived from the Old English word bil, meaning sword or halberd, and later came to indicate a pruning hook used in harvesting fruit.
Early Origins of the Billinslay family
The surname Billinslay was first found in Lancashire at Chapel-End Billinge, a township and chapelry, in the parish and union of Wigan, hundred of West Derby. "Billinge anciently gave name to a family the chief line of which terminated about the reign of Edward I., in a female heir, who married into the Heyton family." 
At one time the, Hengar, a parcel of the manor of Penrose-Burden, which extends into the parish of St. Breward in the parish of St. Judy, Cornwall was the family seat of the Billinge family "whose heiress married John Trelawny, Esq. of Coldrimnick." 
Early History of the Billinslay family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Billinslay research. Another 58 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1273, 1600, 1481, 1687, 1680, 1687, 1758, 1806, 1746 and 1800 are included under the topic Early Billinslay History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Billinslay Spelling Variations
It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Billinslay are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Billinslay include: Billings, Billins, Billinge, Billing, Biling and others.
Early Notables of the Billinslay family (pre 1700)
Notables of the family at this time include Sir Thomas Billing (d. 1481?), was an English Chief Justice, and is thought to have been a native of Northamptonshire, where two villages near Northampton bear his name, and to have afterwards lived in state at Ashwell...
Another 44 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Billinslay Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Billinslay family
Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Billinslay or a variant listed above: Roger Billings who settled in Dorchester Massachusetts and was made a freeman of the town in 1643. He married Mary and had seven children from whom many of the present North American Billings are descended. Enoch Billings settled in Barbados in 1663.
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- ^ Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
- ^ Hutchins, Fortescue, The History of Cornwall, from the Earliest Records and Traditions to the Present Time. London: William Penaluna, 1824. Print