The Origin of/and Defining the Sir Name Bilbrew

The Journey Begins

The Sir name Bilbrew hails from the United Kingdom (England) and is consider Old English with some Scottish influence. The earliest records on the Sir Name Bilbrew I could I locate thus far are listed below

Source: Ancestry.Com
Name               Birth Year      Resided In                 Name            Birth Year    Resident In
James Bilbrew     1850          Suffolk England      Kate Bilbrew      1883      Suffolk England
Emma Bilbrew     1851          Suffolk England      Frank Bilbrew     1886     Suffolk England
Alice Bilbrew       1877          Kent England           Walter Bilbrew    1887     Suffolk England
Charles Bilbrew   1879          Suffolk England          

Now in order to give you a plausible theory based on Old English of how the name Bilbrew may have come about we need to go back in time to as early as the 7th century.
The oldest use of family names or surnames is unclear. Surnames have arisen in cultures with large, concentrated populations where single, personal names for individuals (John, Mary) became insufficient to identify them clearly. Many cultures use additional descriptive terms(John Tailor, Mary Cook) in identifying individuals. These terms may indicate personal attributes, location of origin, occupation, parentage, patronage, adoption, or clan affiliation. These descriptors often developed into fixed clan identifications which in turn became family names as we know them today.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Family_name


 A lot of today’s Old English Sir Names were once full names (given name, and surname) and/or Sir names of  clans were combined through marriages and treaties (Millerbrooks/Miller, Brooks). The last facts to consider as time passed names were shorten or smaller names were created to represent a larger name (Lawrence/Larry, Judith/Judy).

Now with these facts in mind we can now look at the Sir Name (BILBREW)
We will start by separating the name into two parts (BIL BREW or BILL BREW). We also know (BIL/BILL) as being a shorten form on (WILLIAM). We now have (WILLIAM BREW). The word brew in Old English is some type of alcoholic beverage (Ale, Beer). So in theory we can say (WILLIAM BREW, BREWS or maybe BREWER) was either a producer or retailer (Tavern owner) of alcoholic beverages. This type of business was very profitable as is today and one could easy afford a voyage to America and slaves in the new world.

Behind the Name.Com
Bill: Gender: masculine; Usage: English; Pronounced: BIL
Short form of William. The spelling was first used in the 19th century. The change in the initial consonant may have been influenced by an earlier Irish pronunciation of the name.
http://www.behindthename.com/name/bill

William: Gender: masculine; Usage: English; Pronounced: WIL-ee-am, Wil-yam
From the Germanic name Willahelm, which was composed of the element wil “will desire” and helm “helmet, protection” The name was most common among the Normans, and it became extremely popular in England after William the Conqueror was recognized as the first Norman king of England.
http://www.behindthename.com/name/william

Surnamedb.Com
""Recorded as Brew, an Isle of Man version, Brewer and Brewster, this is an English and sometimes Scottish, surname. Of pre 7th century Anglo-Saxon origins it is or rather was, occupational for a brewer of beer or ale. The derivation is from the Olde English pre 7th century verb 'breowan', meaning to brew, that became in medieval English 'brewere'. Until the 14th century, Brewster was the feminine equivalent of Brewer, although after that date the term was used equally for male and female brewers. Early examples of recordings include Roger Breuestere, of Suffolk, in 1221, and Emma le Breustere, in the Hundred Rolls of Berkshire, in 1279. On April 2nd 1553 Edward Brewster, was christened at St. Andrew's, Enfield, in Middlesex, whilst John Brew was recorded in Douglas, Isel of Man. An interesting namebearer was William Brewster (1560 - 1644) of Scrooby, Nottinghamshire. He sailed for Virginia aboard the Mayflower in 1620, and founded New Plymouth, (New England), where he worked as a teacher and preacher. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Richard Briwerra, which was dated 1192, in the register of Ancient Charters of Hampshire, during the reign of King Richard 1st known as 'The Lionheart', 1189 - 1199. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was sometimes known as the Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.
http://www.surnamedb.com/Surname/Brew

The Progressive Dictionary of the English Language (Books Google.Com)
Ale-brew er (al”bro/er), n. One whose occupation is to brew ale.

Brew ster (bro/ster),n. [Brew and term.-ster] One who brews; a brewer; more especially, a female who brews

Em brew (em-bro),v. {Prefix em for em and brew
1. To brew, to distill or strain
2. To steep, to brue, to moisten
http://books.google.com/books?id=vulBAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=The+Progressive+Dictionary+of+the+English+Language&source=bl&ots=kgNB4WWbdK&sig=W3zb3aV-i8mrSEsvyYrJfGeNqRQ&hl=en&ei=2Ww_TZm0G4LLgQeQ4KzyAg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CBYQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=brew&f=false
Pages 24,90, and 187

SUMMARY

I must remind everyone this is just a plausible theory based on some of the rules of Old English. Research only shows Bilbrew as a English name  with some Scottish influence at this point.  I hope this will help clear up some of the mysteries and questions about our Sir Name Bilbrew. Please feel free to add too or join in our family’s journey through our  history.  Follow this  Blog on Facebook @ The Bilbrew Family, and bilbrewroots@yahoo.com. Coming soon Tracing The Sir Name Bilbrew Part I (From England to Slavery).