Show ContentsHembrough History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The rich and ancient history of the Hembrough family name dates back to the time of the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. It comes from the Old French personal names Amauri and Emaurri. These are derived from the Old German personal name Amalric, which literally means work-rule.

Early Origins of the Hembrough family

The surname Hembrough was first found in Devon at Broadhembury which is also known as Hembury, a parish and former market-town in the union of Honiton. 1 Hembury is also the name of a Neolithic causewayed enclosure and Iron Age hill fort near Honiton in Devon and is thought to date back from the late fifth and early fourth century BC. Hembury Castle is an Iron Age Hill fort near Tythecott, south of Buckland Brewer. Some researchers believe that the name is related to the name Embury, but this is not the case as this name is a distinct Devon name whereas Embury hails from Somerset. 2 3

Early History of the Hembrough family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hembrough research. Another 66 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1327, 1377 and 1761 are included under the topic Early Hembrough History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hembrough Spelling Variations

Spelling variations in names were a common occurrence before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate spelled their names differently as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Hembrough have been found, including Hembery, Hembry, Hembrow, Hembrough, Hemborough, Hembury, Hembergh, Hembro, Hembray, Hembree and many more.

Early Notables of the Hembrough family

More information is included under the topic Early Hembrough Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Hembrough migration to the United States +

Families began migrating abroad in enormous numbers because of the political and religious discontent in England. Often faced with persecution and starvation in England, the possibilities of the New World attracted many English people. Although the ocean trips took many lives, those who did get to North America were instrumental in building the necessary groundwork for what would become for new powerful nations. Among the first immigrants of the name Hembrough, or a variant listed above to cross the Atlantic and come to North America were :

Hembrough Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • John Hembrough, who settled in Illinois in 1835
  • John Hembrough, who arrived in Morgan County, Illinois in 1835 4


  1. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  2. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  3. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  4. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)


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