 A charter written in 1308 mentions a hermitage by the rocks on the eastern side of Billington.The village has been known previously as Billindon (1203), Billinton (1208), Bilingdon (1241), Belyngton or Bilyngton (14th–16th centuries).In the 16th century, tenants of the village shared common land known as Billington Common with tenants of local villages Great Harwood and Wilpshire.