Show ContentsHornibrook History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Hornibrook is of Anglo-Saxon origin and came from when the family lived in the settlement of Hornbrook in Kelly in the county of Devon. The surname Hornibrook belongs to the large category of Anglo-Saxon habitation names. 1

Early Origins of the Hornibrook family

The surname Hornibrook was first found in Devon where they held a family seat from very ancient times, some say well before the Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066 A.D.

Early History of the Hornibrook family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hornibrook research. Another 72 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1642, 1679 and 1798 are included under the topic Early Hornibrook History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hornibrook Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Hornibrook are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. Scribes and monks in the Middle Ages spelled names they sounded, so it is common to find several variations that refer to a single person. The variations of the name Hornibrook include: Hornbrook, Hornibrook and others.

Early Notables of the Hornibrook family

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

Ireland Migration of the Hornibrook family to Ireland

Some of the Hornibrook family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Hornibrook family

Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Hornibrook or a variant listed above: Thomas Hornbrook settled in Maryland in 1737; Mary Hornbrook and her husband and two children arrived in Philadelphia in 1820.


Contemporary Notables of the name Hornibrook (post 1700) +

  • Percival Mitchell Hornibrook (1899-1976), Australian cricketer who played in 6 Tests from 1929 to 1930
  • Sir Manuel Richard Hornibrook OBE (1893-1970), Australian civil engineer, founder the firm M R Hornibrook Pty Ltd which after a merger became one of Australia's largest engineering firms, eponym of the Hornibrook Bridge, Queensland, Australia


  1. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)


Houseofnames.com on Facebook