Show ContentsInger History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Inger family

The surname Inger was first found in Cornwall where they held a family seat as Lords of the Castle of Bottreaux. One source notes the name "was originally spelt Hendower, and that the Hendowers are said to have originated in Wales; that the elder branch became extinct about temp. Hen. VIII, but that younger branches, who had abbreviated the name to Hender, were living near Camelsford a few years since. The name in both Welsh and Cornish might translate 'old water' " 1

The first record of the family was found quite late: "The last male heir of the Borlase family sold the manor of Borlase Burgess in 1559, to John Hender, Esq. whose heiress carried it in marriage to the ancestor of Sir A. O. Molesworth, Bart, the present proprietor." This citation was found in Cornish records for the manors in the parish of St. Weyn. Later there was a marriage record of the "grandson of Richard Robartes who married a co-heiress of Hender of Bottreaux Castle, and was created a Baronet in 1621, and in 1625 a peer, bearing the title of Lord Robartes of Truro." 2

The Hinder variant is unique to the United States. 3

Early History of the Inger family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Inger research. Another 122 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1079, 1142, 1149, 1510, 1600 and 1662 are included under the topic Early Inger History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Inger Spelling Variations

Cornish surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. The frequent changes in surnames are due to the fact that the Old and Middle English languages lacked definite spelling rules. The official court languages, which were Latin and French, were also influential on the spelling of a surname. Since the spelling of surnames was rarely consistent in medieval times, and scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded rather than adhering to any specific spelling rules, it was common to find the same individual referred to with different spellings of their surname in the ancient chronicles. Moreover, a large number of foreign names were brought into England, which accelerated and accentuated the alterations to the spelling of various surnames. Lastly, spelling variations often resulted from the linguistic differences between the people of Cornwall and the rest of England. The Cornish spoke a unique Brythonic Celtic language which was first recorded in written documents during the 10th century. However, they became increasingly Anglicized, and Cornish became extinct as a spoken language in 1777, although it has been revived by Cornish patriots in the modern era. The name has been spelled Hender, Henter, Ender and others.

Early Notables of the Inger family

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

Migration of the Inger family

In the immigration and passenger lists a number of early immigrants bearing the name Inger were found: the name represented in many forms and recorded from the mid 17th century in the great migration from Europe. Migrants settled in the eastern seaboard from Newfoundland, to Maine, to Virginia, the Carolinas, and to the islands..


Contemporary Notables of the name Inger (post 1700) +

  • Inger Berggren (b. 1934), Swedish singer
  • Inger Christin Borge, Professor of Mathematics at the University of Oslo, Norway
  • Inger Lassen (1911-1957), Danish film actress


  1. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  2. Hutchins, Fortescue, The History of Cornwall, from the Earliest Records and Traditions to the Present Time. London: William Penaluna, 1824. Print
  3. Charnock, Richard, Stephen, Ludus Patronymicus of The Etymology of Curious Surnames. London: Trubner & Co., 60 Paternoster Row, 1868. Print.


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