Bilsland
The old Scottish surname Bilsland may originate from Bellsland North Ayrshire,a place name born by two Scottish villages one near Riccarton,the other near Kilmaurs.
Whilst the surname Bisland possibly originates from Bessland, the origins are obscure and could be an earlier form of Bilsland.
The surname is first recorded in 1592 by John Bellisland a tenant from Drumquhassill near Drymen, recorded in the registars of the Privy Council. Later by a Janet Bilsland in Edinburgh 1673 "registars of marriage".
The following was taken from the 1881, census of Scotland and shows large numbers of Bilsland families and their origins:
BILSLAND
Lanarkshire 56
Renfrewshire 51
Dumbartonshire 40
Stirlingshire 21
Argyllshire 7
Midlothian 7
BISLAND
Dumbartonshire 28
Renfrewshire 24
Lanarkshire 5
Ayrshire 3
Angus 2
Argyllshire 1
BISSLAND
Renfrewshire 42
Dumbartonshire 20
Lanarkshire 20
Stirlingshire 4
Argyllshire 3
The old Scottish surname, Bilsland is associated with the following:
CLANS and TARTANS:
CLANS
Clan Wallace, Clan Boyd, Clan Stewart, Clan Montgomery, Clan Cunningham, Clan Macaulay,
Clan Macgregor, Clan Drummond.
DISTRICT TARTANS
Ayrshire, Glasgow, Paisley, Lanark.
Research by Colin W Bilsland
Clans
Noticeable Bilslands
Send E-Mail to: colinwbilsland@aol.com
Copyright © 2003 Colin W Bilsland. All Rights Reserved