Herte Surname History

Origins Available:
England
Scotland

The ancient Anglo-Saxon culture once found in Britain is the soil from which the many generations of the Herte family have grown. This surname was also derived form the Old English word "heorot," which meant "stag." 1 The original bearer of this name most likely was known by this nickname due to some traits or attributes that seemed "stag-like." There are many folk tales, myths, and legends which portrayed animals behaving as humans.

Early Origins of the Herte family

The surname Herte was first found in Oxfordshire, where the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 listed Amicia le Hurt, Thomas le Hurt, and Hugh le Hurt as all holding lands there at that time. 1

"In the reign of Edward I, Hurt was a common name in Oxfordshire, and it was also represented then in Lincolnshire and Devonshire." 2

However, another source notes Aelfric Hort was living in Hampshire c. 1060 and in this case, he would have been a Saxon as this was before the Norman Conquest in 1066. He continues: Roger Hert was listed in the Pipe Rolls of Norfolk in 1166, Reginald Hurt was a Templar from Bedfordshire in 1185, Simon le Hert was listed in the Feet of Fines for Kent in 1197, Godrich le Hurt was listed in Berkshire in 1220, and finally Richard Hort was listed in the Assize Rolls of Warwickshire in 1221. 3

Early History of the Herte family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Herte research. Another 124 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1273, 1461, 1595, 1602, 1609, 1633, 1674, 1690, 1695 and 1751 are included under the topic Early Herte History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Herte Spelling Variations

Only recently has spelling become standardized in the English language. As the English language evolved in the Middle Ages, the spelling of names changed also. The name Herte has undergone many spelling variations, including Hurt, Hurte and others.

Early Notables of the Herte family

Another 48 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Herte Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Herte family

To escape the unstable social climate in England of this time, many families boarded ships for the New World with the hope of finding land, opportunity, and greater religious and political freedom. Although the voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, those families that arrived often found greater opportunities and freedoms than they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make significant contributions to the rapidly developing colonies in which they settled. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Herte were among those contributors: Toby Hurt, who sailed to Virginia in 1623; Robert Hurt to Barbados in 1635; Richard Hurt to Somers Island in 1635; Edward Hurt to Virginia in 1650; John Hurt to Bermuda in 1662.

Citations +

Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)