Surname Billing - Meaning and Origin
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Billing: What does the surname Billing mean?
The surname Billing is of Anglo-Saxon origin and is derived from the Old English pre 7th Century personal name "Billa" (which means sword), combined with "ing", typically implying 'son of' or 'family of'. Thus, Billing roughly translates to "descendant of Billa" or "family of the one with a sword". The name Billa could also refer to an individual who made or sold swords, indicating a trade-based origin. As with many surnames of this era, variations in spelling are common, including Billinge, Billin, and Billins. The surname first appears in records in the 13th century in England. Today, it is common in Northern England, particularly in Yorkshire and Lancashire. In some cases, the name may also be geographical, referring to individuals from places named Billing, such as in Northamptonshire and Lancashire.
Order DNA origin analysisBilling: Where does the name Billing come from?
The surname Billing is of Anglo-Saxon origin, primarily rooted in Medieval England. It is derived from the personal name Bill, a shortened form of William, partnered with the suffix "ing" which means "descendant of." Therefore, Billing is normally translated as "the son or descendant of Bill."
The surname Billing became more prevalent as the norm of adopting fixed hereditary surnames developed following the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. It originally emerged as a way to solve the confusion of having too many Johns, or Wills, in a small community, thereby using another identifier—parentage.
Today, individuals bearing the surname Billing can be found scattered globally due to migration and spread of population throughout history. However, it still maintains a particular prevalence in English-speaking countries such as the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, and Australia. Additionally, Billing also appears as a surname in Scandinavian countries, demonstrating significant occurrence in places like Denmark and Sweden. This distribution indicates both the influence of the English language worldwide and the historical movements of people bearing the Billing surname.
Variations of the surname Billing
There are several variations and spellings of the surname Billing. These may include: Billings, Billinge, Billinger, Biling, Billyng, Bylling, Byllings, and Billin. Each variation may reflect different historical influences, geographic regions, or changes in language over time.
Similar or derived surnames may include the Scandinavian names Bolling, Bollinger, or Bulling, which share etymological roots with Billing.
The surname Billing originates from the pre 7th century Old English personal name "Billing", a byname which means 'the son of Billa". It was often used in compound names such as Billingham or Billinghay.
Certain suffixes might also have been added to the base name to create variants, such as Billingsley (a place in Shropshire meaning clearing of the people of Billa - 'Bill's people') or Billington which is found in both Bedfordshire and Lancashire.
It's also important to note that spelling variations often occurred due to variations in regional dialect and the fact that names were often recorded based on how they sounded, leading to many different spellings of the same name.
Famous people with the name Billing
- Anna Billing: Swedish actress known for her performances in theatre, films and TV series.
- Morten Rostrup Billing: Renowned Danish footballer who has played for several prominent football clubs.
- Lance Billing: New Zealand cricketer who has made extraordinary contributions to New Zealand cricket.
- Per Billing: Swedish businessman and former CEO of Castellum AB, one of the largest listed real estate companies in Sweden.
- Patti Billing: An Australian actress known for her roles in popular soap operas.
- Inger Billing: Swedish long-distance runner who competed in women's marathon at the 1984 Summer Olympics.
- Johann Christoph Billing: German violinist during the Baroque period.
- Luke Billing: Australian Rugby League Player.
- Seth Billing: American magician known for his illusion performances.