Surname Billingsly - Meaning and Origin
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Billingsly: What does the surname Billingsly mean?
The last name Billingsly is of English origin and is believed to be derived from a personal name such as Billings, which is a form of the various Germanic names beginning with the element ‘bil’, meaning ‘protection’ or ‘will’ combined with ‘ing’, meaning people or tribe. Therefore, the overall meaning of the name is ‘belongs to the people/tribe protected/led by Bill’.
When used as a surname, the name can refer to the descendants of an individual named Billings. This person likely served in an esteemed position such as a leader, nobleman, or scholar and was recognized for their knowledge or abilities. There may also have been a physical location related to the person that would have specifically become associated with them and their descendants, such as a place name.
The name Billingsly is most commonly found in England and Virginia. As such, it is hypothesized that the name originated in England and was introduced to the United States by early settlers in Virginia. Today, the name can be found in various countries throughout the world.
Order DNA origin analysisBillingsly: Where does the name Billingsly come from?
The last name Billingsly is an English or Scottish hereditary surname. Today, it is one of the most common surnames in the United States, with people of this name living in states from coast to coast.
The most concentrated area of Billingsly's is located in the southern states, especially in Mississippi, Arkansas, Georgia, and Texas. Smaller population centers with high numbers of Billingslys are also found in Alabama, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia.
Outside of the south, people of the Billingsly surname can also be found in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
The Billingsly name can also be found in Canada including Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, and Ontario. In the United Kingdom, it is found mainly in England, particularly in the counties of Lancashire, Lincolnshire, and Northamptonshire, and in Scotland.
Interestingly, the popular computer game "The Sims" features two different families which bear the Billingsly name.
Variations of the surname Billingsly
The surname Billingsly has several variants, spellings, and surnames of similar origin. Billingsly itself is sometimes spelled as Billingsley, Billingsleigh, Billingslye, Billungslye, Billingsey, Bilingly, and Bilyngsly, among other variations. Other surnames of similar origins include Biling, Beling, Billebus, Blingsley, and Billig.
The origin of the surname Billingsly is believed to be derived from an Old English personal name, probably consisting of two distinct elements: the word 'belle' or 'bil' meaning 'staff', while 'inga' means 'family'. Adding the suffix 'slee', or 'lee' would have signified 'descendant of' and created the surname Billingsly.
Originally, Billingsly was a name given to people who lived in a small hamlet located near Lincolnshire, England. The settlement was known as Billingellei in the Domesday Book of 1086, and the surname was most likely created from the place name.
Today, Billingsly is more widely found in the United States. In 1880, the name was recorded in America for the first time in the census, with 15 recorded instances. Billingsly is now found all over the nation, though with the vast majority of its instances in the south.
Famous people with the name Billingsly
- William "Bill" Billingsly: American actor, best known for his role in the 2003 feature movie Elf.
- Philip Billingsley: American screenwriter, director, producer, and actor. He was a co-creator of Hart to Hart.
- Cecilie Billingsley: American actress who had appeared in various television shows and commercials.
- Bob Billingsley: American musician and producer, best known for his work with Abba, U2, Phil Collins, INXS, Sting, and Bruce Springsteen.
- Barry Billingsley: American professional wrestler who went by the ring name "Gigolo".
- Mandy Billingsly: American businesswoman, author, and philanthropist.
- Janelle Billingsly: American fashion designer who is known for her high-end gowns.
- Abigail Billingsly: American philanthropist whose organization has donated over one million dollars to various charities.
- Ibis Billingsley: American comedian and actress who is best known for her stand-up comedy appearances.
- Melissa Billingsley: American film producer and actress, best known for producing the 2017 motion picture A Quiet Place.