Hornor History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The name Hornor is Anglo-Saxon in origin. It was a name given to a person who carved objects out of horn or made musical instruments. "In London the horners and bottle-makers form one Company. Horn was anciently applied to many uses for which glass and other materials are at present employed." 1

Early Origins of the Hornor family

The surname Hornor was first found in Somerset where they held a family seat from very early times, some say long before the Norman Conquest in 1066. However, we must look to Huntingdonshire (now part of Cambridgeshire) for the first listing of the family. For it is there, that Matilda le Homere, was listed in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273. A few years later in 1303, Richard le Homer was listed in the Writs of Parliament.

Later again in 1379, The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls listed Johannes Homer and Ricardus Hornar. 2

One source notes: "Horner is a characteristic Yorkshire name. The Horners, a family of York merchants in the 17th century, on three occasions held the office of lord mayor of that city." 3

Mention should now be made of Jack Horner of the nursery rhyme fame. Some people claim that he was a historical figure, the steward of Richard Whiting (1461-1539), the last abbot of Glastonbury. As the story goes, during Henry VIII's dissolution of the monasteries, the abbot is said to have sent his steward to the king with a gift - a pie containing the deeds of some manor houses, one of which Horner extracted. While this story cannot be fully confirmed, it is true that a Thomas Horner did take over the manor of Mells after the dissolution and his family have lived there since.

Early History of the Hornor family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hornor research. Another 222 words (16 lines of text) covering the years 1452, 1544, 1551, 1570, 1589, 1605, 1645, 1646, 1660, 1677, 1680, 1681, 1687, 1696, 1707, 1713, 1727, 1817 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Hornor History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hornor Spelling Variations

Until the dictionary, an invention of only the last few hundred years, the English language lacked any comprehensive system of spelling rules. Consequently, spelling variations in names are frequently found in early Anglo-Saxon and later Anglo-Norman documents. One person's name was often spelled several different ways over a lifetime. The recorded variations of Hornor include Horner, Hornere, Horners and others.

Early Notables of the Hornor family

Notables of this surname at this time include: Sir George Horner (1605-1677), an English lawyer and politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1645 and 1660; and his son...
Another 30 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Hornor Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Hornor family to Ireland

Some of the Hornor family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 68 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Hornor family

Thousands of English families boarded ships sailing to the New World in the hope of escaping the unrest found in England at this time. Although the search for opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad took the lives of many because of the cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels, the opportunity perceived in the growing colonies of North America beckoned. Many of the settlers who survived the journey went on to make important contributions to the transplanted cultures of their adopted countries. The Hornor were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records: Thomas Horner settled in Virginia in 1623; James and Roger Horner settled in Virginia in 1638; Thomas Horner settled in Barbados in 1680 with his wife, two children, and servants..

Contemporary Notables of the name Hornor (post 1700) +

Thomas Hornor (1767-1834), American-born, Canadian farmer and politician, Member of the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada for Oxford (1820-1828)
Lynn Sedwick Hornor (1874-1933), American politician, Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from West Virginia (1931-1933), President of the West Virginia Natural Gas Association in 1917 and 1918
Thomas Hornor (1785-1844), English land surveyor, artist, and inventor

The Hornor 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: Nitor in adversum
Motto Translation: I contend against adversity.

Citations +

Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
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.