In 1645, Swedish settlers moved into the area and were soon followed by the English Quakers. Unofficial sources report the area was named "Byberry" after one of the first settler's hometown of Bibury, England. Others argue that William Penn & Henry A. Snyder suggested the name. In any case, the spelling varied for some time until the area officially became known as Byberry Township, PA in 1694. Just before the township was formally established, the Quakers built a Friends meeting house (1692) at the Southampton and Townsend Roads. By 1710 the Quaker Friends' School was built.