This name is of Anglo-Saxon origin, and is locational surname from any one of the places called 'Bickley' in the counties of Cheshire, Kent and Worcestershire, or form 'Brickeigh' in Devonshire. The place in Cheshire and Devon are recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as 'Bichelei' and a 'Bichelia', respectively. The name means either 'Bicca's clearing' or 'glade of the Woodpecker', derived from the Olde English pre 7th Century personal name 'Bicca', itself from 'becca', a pickaxe or mattock, or from 'bicca', a Woodpecker, with 'leah', a glade, clearing in a wood.
Ralph Bickie of Hampshire was listed in the University of Oxford's Register for 1575. The marriage of John Bickley and Mary Brogden was recorded in London in 1607. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Henry de Bickleghe, which was dated 1273, The Devonshire Hundred Rolls, during the reign of King Edward I, The Hammer of the Scots, 1272 - 1307. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.
We can try to trace the genealogy of the surname bickley, and in addition to the original locations of bickley, we can find out where people with the surname bickley can currently be found. Adhering to what we know about the way surnames originated, it is possible to offer a realistic explanation of the origins of bickley.
The mobility of people carrying the surname bickley has led to its presence in different countries, as you can verify.
The history, heraldry, coats of arms, and possible nobility of the surname bickley are scattered in documents across various regions and historical periods, so it is necessary to reconstruct a complex puzzle to approach the facts from a realistic perspective. In the following lines, you will find everything we have been able to gather about the surname bickley.
Please note that if you are in a position to provide more data about the surname bickley or any other surname and its origin, we would appreciate your collaboration with us by sending us information about the origin of bickley.
A surname like bickley can connect a person to an illustrious lineage and a distinguished coat of arms. However, it must be kept in mind that it is individual people who, through their lives and actions, bring fame and recognition to their surnames. If you or someone you know bears the surname bickley, you could potentially build illustrious lineages through your efforts and virtues.
We consider it highly advisable to refer to the following sources if you wish to conduct research on the surname bickley, as well as many other surnames. Accessing the archives of the town or towns where your ancestors were born and lived is, of course, a good way to trace the origins of bickley.
These sources are essential for initiating the understanding of bickley, and at the same time, of surnames in general.