ORIGIN OF THE SURNAME BAILEY In the book, "Clues to our Family Names" by Lou Stein, Heritage Books, Inc., 1986, is found the following passage regarding the origin of the name "Bailey" [and variations]: "In the center of a medieval town was a large, open-air space used as a daily market where fruits and vegetables and other kinds of merchandise were sold. The town streets were narrow and crooked. Most houses were required by law to have a stone foundation as a means of fire prevention. All craft workers had their shops at ground level and they lived in rooms above the shops. The market square was the town center of activities. Here stood the town hall and the town cathedral. Festival and religious plays occurred in the town market place. A Middle Ages town usually had high, thick walls (at least four feet thick) with a high gate which was opened at sunrise and closed at sunset. These thick, high walls and gates were protection against robber gangs and packs of wild animals that appeared after nightfall. Bailey identified the ancestor who had a special legal responsibility. In Scotland he was the chief judge (Bailie) in a district. In English regions he served as deputy sheriff (Bailey) for several districts; or as the chief lawman for a very large manor. In Norman-French times, the "bailey" was in charge of a castle's outer wall. His task was to keep this wall difficult to penetrate by attack. Root: Old French balie (bailey)." Marge Garfield in VT, a Bailey descendant Samuel Bailey + Mrs. Lucy White of New Kent > Rebecca Bailey [b.c. 1807] + Foster Higgins of New Kent > Thaddeus Higgins [b.c. 1828] + Elizabeth Bayley of Henrico and Hanover ...... etc.