Hender History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Early Origins of the Hender family

The surname Hender was first found in Cornwall where they held a family seat as Lords of the Castle of Bottreaux. One source notes the name "was originally spelt Hendower, and that the Hendowers are said to have originated in Wales; that the elder branch became extinct about temp. Hen. VIII, but that younger branches, who had abbreviated the name to Hender, were living near Camelsford a few years since. The name in both Welsh and Cornish might translate 'old water' " 1

The first record of the family was found quite late: "The last male heir of the Borlase family sold the manor of Borlase Burgess in 1559, to John Hender, Esq. whose heiress carried it in marriage to the ancestor of Sir A. O. Molesworth, Bart, the present proprietor." This citation was found in Cornish records for the manors in the parish of St. Weyn. Later there was a marriage record of the "grandson of Richard Robartes who married a co-heiress of Hender of Bottreaux Castle, and was created a Baronet in 1621, and in 1625 a peer, bearing the title of Lord Robartes of Truro." 2

The Hinder variant is unique to the United States. 3

Early History of the Hender family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hender research. Another 122 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1079, 1142, 1149, 1510, 1600 and 1662 are included under the topic Early Hender History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hender Spelling Variations

Cornish surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. The frequent changes in surnames are due to the fact that the Old and Middle English languages lacked definite spelling rules. The official court languages, which were Latin and French, were also influential on the spelling of a surname. Since the spelling of surnames was rarely consistent in medieval times, and scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded rather than adhering to any specific spelling rules, it was common to find the same individual referred to with different spellings of their surname in the ancient chronicles. Moreover, a large number of foreign names were brought into England, which accelerated and accentuated the alterations to the spelling of various surnames. Lastly, spelling variations often resulted from the linguistic differences between the people of Cornwall and the rest of England. The Cornish spoke a unique Brythonic Celtic language which was first recorded in written documents during the 10th century. However, they became increasingly Anglicized, and Cornish became extinct as a spoken language in 1777, although it has been revived by Cornish patriots in the modern era. The name has been spelled Hender, Henter, Ender and others.

Early Notables of the Hender family

Notable amongst the family at this time was

the Hender family of Cornnwall

Hender migration to the United States +

A look at the immigration and passenger lists has shown a number of people bearing the name Hender:

Hender Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Hender, (b. 1882), aged 38, Cornish settler from Liskeard, Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship "Campania" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 19th August 1905 en route to New York, USA 4
Mr. William Hender, (b. 1867), aged 33, Cornish miner travelling aboard the ship "Philadelphia" arriving at Ellis Island, New York in 1905 en route to Tonapah, Nevada, USA 4
Mr. William J Hender, (b. 1872), aged 48, Cornish carpenter from Liskeard, Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship "Campania" arriving at Ellis Island, New York in 1905 en route to New York, USA 4

Hender migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Hender Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Thomas Hender, (b. 1812), aged 24 born in Cornwall, UK convicted in Lower Canada (Quebec) on 8th August 1836, sentenced for 7 years for desertion, transported aboard the ship "Sarah" in 1837 to Van Diemen's Land, Tasmania, Australia 5
Edward Hender, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "City Of Adelaide" in 1839 6
Ann Hender, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "City Of Adelaide" in 1839 6
John Hender, aged 35, who arrived in South Australia in 1849 aboard the ship "Samuel Boddington" 7

Contemporary Notables of the name Hender (post 1700) +

Sarah Jane Hender (b. 1972), British artist
Skitne hender (b. 1966), Norwegian television actor
Matthew Hender, Canadian musician
Sir Hender Molesworth (1638-1639), 1st Baronet Molesworth of Pencarrow, Governor of Jamaica

Citations +

Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Hutchins, Fortescue, The History of Cornwall, from the Earliest Records and Traditions to the Present Time. London: William Penaluna, 1824. Print
Charnock, Richard, Stephen, Ludus Patronymicus of The Etymology of Curious Surnames. London: Trubner & Co., 60 Paternoster Row, 1868. Print.
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_ellis_island_1892_on.pdf
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 30th May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/tasmanian_convicts_cornish.pdf
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) CITY OF ADELAIDE 1839. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1839CityOfAdelaide.htm
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) SAMUEL BODDINGTON 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849SamuelBoddington.htm