Show ContentsHoughland History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Anglo-Saxon name Houghland comes from when the family resided in one of four places named Hoyland in the West Riding of Yorkshire. The surname Houghland belongs to the large category of Anglo-Saxon habitation names, which are derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads.

Early Origins of the Houghland family

The surname Houghland was first found in Yorkshire at either High Hoyland, Upper or Lower Hoyland, and Hoyland Swaine. All three parishes and villages are listed in the Domesday Book of 1086: Holand for Hoyland High; Hoiland for Hoyland Nether; and Hollande for Hoyland Swaine. [1] [2]

All of the villages literally mean "cultivated land on or near a hill-spur," from the Old English words "hoh" + "land." The latter "Swaine" variant is believed to be a manorial affix added in the 12th century from a man called, Swein. [3]

Early History of the Houghland family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Houghland research. Another 97 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1147, 1172, 1187, 1540, 1591, 1600 and 1673 are included under the topic Early Houghland History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Houghland Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, French and other languages became incorporated into English through the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Houghland include Howland, Hoyland and others.

Early Notables of the Houghland family

Notables of this surname at this time include: Richard Howland D.D. (1540-1600), Bishop of Peterborough, the son and heir of John Howland, gentleman, of the city of London, and Anne Greenway of Cley, Norfolk, was...
Another 34 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Houghland Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Australia Houghland migration to Australia +

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

Houghland Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. William Houghland, (b. 1799), aged 35, English convict who was convicted in Shropshire, England for life for theft, transported aboard the "Bengal Merchant" on 27th September 1834, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1877 [4]


  1. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  2. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  3. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  4. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 7th October 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/bengal-merchant


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