Show ContentsHoneyman History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The people known in ancient Scotland as the Picts were the forefathers of the Honeyman family. It is a name for a beekeeper. This occupation was important during the Middle Ages; since sugar was unknown in Europe, honey was the only available sweetener to be used in food preparation. Honey was also vital in the production of mead, a popular beverage.

Early Origins of the Honeyman family

The surname Honeyman was first found in Fife, where they held a family seat from early times, where it is said, within the family, "we all belong to Fife." Although this is largely true, deriving themselves from Falkland to St. Andrews, the name branched in early times to both Ayrshire and north to the Orkneys.

Early History of the Honeyman family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Honeyman research. Another 87 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1522, 1555, 1606, 1661, 1664, 1668 and 1676 are included under the topic Early Honeyman History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Honeyman Spelling Variations

Although Medieval Scotland lacked a basic set of spelling rules, which meant that scribes recorded names according to their sounds it was not uncommon for the names of a father and son to be recorded differently. As a result, there are many spelling variations of Scottish single names. Honeyman has been written Honyman, Honeyman, Honiman, Huniman, Hunyman, Hunman, Honnyman, Honneyman, Honniman, Hunniman and many more.

Early Notables of the Honeyman family

Notable amongst the Clan at this time was

  • Andrew Honeyman (d. 1676), a Scottish Anglican[3] priest, Bishop of Orkney (1664-1676)


United States Honeyman migration to the United States +

Thousands of Scots left their home country to travel to Ireland or Australia, or to cross the Atlantic for the North American colonies. The difficult crossing was an enormous hurdle, but those who survived found freedom and opportunity in ample measure. Some Scots even fought for their freedom in the American War of Independence. This century, their ancestors have become aware of the illustrious history of the Scots in North America and at home through Clan societies and other organizations. Passenger and immigration lists show many early and influential immigrants bearing the name Honeyman:

Honeyman Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • William Honeyman, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1773 1
Honeyman Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Michael Honeyman, who settled in New York NY in 1820

Canada Honeyman migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Honeyman Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • John Honeyman (1729-1822), Irish immigrant to Canada aboard the frigate Boyne with James Wolfe; after Wolfe's victory at Quebec, he emigrated and settled in Pennsylvania

New Zealand Honeyman migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Honeyman Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Thomas Honeyman, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1841
  • Thomas Honeyman, aged 25, a farm labourer, who arrived in Port Nicholson aboard the ship "Olympus" in 1841
  • Mary Honeyman, aged 28, who arrived in Port Nicholson aboard the ship "Olympus" in 1841
  • Mr. Thomas Honeyman, (b. 1815), aged 25, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Olympus" arriving in Wellington, New Zealand on 20th April 1841 2
  • Mrs. Mary Honeyman, (b. 1812), aged 28, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Olympus" arriving in Wellington, New Zealand on 20th April 1841 2
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Honeyman (post 1700) +

  • Ian Honeyman (b. 1978), American film composer who has written music for feature films, short films, TV shows
  • Nan Wood Honeyman (1881-1970), American politician, Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Oregon (1937-1939), the first woman elected to the United States Congress from Oregon in 1936
  • John Honeyman (1729-1822), Irish-born, American spy for George Washington who was responsible for gathering the intelligence essential for Washington's victory in the Battle of Trenton
  • Peter Honeyman Ph.D., American Scientific Director of the Center for Information Technology Integration and Adjunct Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the University of Michigan
  • Susie Honeyman (b. 1960), Scottish violin player, best known for her work with the Mekons, co-founder of the Grey Gallery
  • Katrina Honeyman (1950-2011), British economic historian and Professor of Social and Economic History at the University of Leeds
  • Ben Honeyman (b. 1977), Australian former footballer who played from 1994 to 2002 and managed from 2005 to 2006
  • Thomas J "Tom" Honeyman (1891-1971), Scottish director of the Glasgow Art Gallery, Rector of the University of Glasgow (1953-1956)
  • Ian Honeyman, English tenor, actor and pianist of international fame


The Honeyman Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Progredere ne redgredere
Motto Translation: Advance, do not recede.


  1. 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)
  2. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html


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