2,926 Baily members around the world

Baily Family History

There are three distinct origins for this interesting name. Firstly it can be an occupational name for a steward or official, from the Old French 'baillis' or 'bailif', Middle English 'bail(l)'. The word survives in Scotland as 'bailie', the title of a municipal magistrate, but in England has developed into 'bailiff', an officer of the court. The second source is topographical, denoting one who lived by the outermost wall of a castle or fortified town, the Middle English 'bail(l)y' as can be seen in the case of the Old Bailey in London, which was part of the early medieval walls.