Bailey Surname: Origin and Coat of Arms
What does Bailey mean, and where does it come from? Here is a brief introduction.
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Origin of the Bailey name
Bailey has two main origins. It is an occupational name for a bailiff, from Middle English baili, an officer who managed an estate or acted for the sheriff or the Crown. It is also a topographic name for someone who lived by the outer wall of a castle, from Middle English baile, as in the Old Bailey in London. The name is common across England and in North America.
Our historical archives hold much more on the Bailey name: dates, names and records of early bearers.
This overview covers the Bailey name in England. We also hold records of the name in other countries, such as the United States, Australia and Canada; your full pack is researched for your family's country of origin.
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Your full Bailey pack adds the researched history, early records and migration. Order your pack and our heraldry team researches and paints the Bailey coat of arms for you.
Bailey name FAQ
What does the Bailey name mean?
Bailiff; castle outer wall. Common variants include Bayley, Baillie, Bailly.
Where does the Bailey surname come from?
It originates in England, and is also found in the United States, Australia and Canada.
Is there a Bailey coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals, not whole surnames, so there is no single Bailey crest. Herald Lab paints a personalized Bailey coat of arms based on historic heraldry.
Researched by Herald Lab Research Studio, since 1993. Sources: Reaney & Wilson, Dictionary of English Surnames; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford); US Census Bureau 2010.