It is thought the origins of our family came over with the Vikings around 800 AD, with the name Beal or Beil or Biel. They settled in the Humber Estuary, on the east coast of Northern England.
It is thought that the Beilbys, the Bielbys and the Bealbys are all from the Viking families of Beil, Biel and Beal. Over time they put down their roots, by cultivating land and building thatched cottages, with the letters "by" being added to give their place a name.
The village of Bielby was established and is named in the Doomsday Book, which is a comprehensive survey of landholdings in England completed in 1086 under the orders of William the Conqueror.
David and Jim Bealby have been back to the village, and there is a copy of the sale of the lands of Bielby to Merton College, Oxford in 1613.
It is thought that James Bealby b.1770 is descended from this family. His son George Bealby started the Bealby Plough business in 1821.
Further information on the village of Bielby can be found here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
Researched by brothers David Bealby b.25/08/1933 and Jim Bealby b.1931 Bealby of Lincolnshire.
Article compiled by Alan Bealby, October 2025.