Adney History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

Adney is one of the many names that the Normans brought with them when they conquered England in 1066. The name Adney came from the Norman name Odinet, from which the more commonly known Odo is derived. Apart from the aforementioned patronymic origin, the place name could also mean "pleasant valley," from the Welsh "hawdd" meaning "pleasant" or "peaceful" and "nant," a "glen or valley." 1

Early Origins of the Adney family

The surname Adney was first found in Shropshire at Hodnet, a village and civil parish in the union of Drayton, in the hundred of North Bradford. 2

The first record of the place name was found in the Domesday Book of 1086 where it was listed as Odenet. 3

"The Hodnets, or Hodnetts, derive their name from the Shropshire parish of Hodnet. During the 13th century there was a powerful family in the county that took the name of De Hodenet from either the manor or the parish of the name." 4

Early History of the Adney family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Adney research. Another 120 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1116 and 1237 are included under the topic Early Adney History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Adney Spelling Variations

The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries. For that reason, spelling variations are common among many Anglo-Norman names. The shape of the English language was frequently changed with the introduction of elements of Norman French, Latin, and other European languages; even the spelling of literate people's names were subsequently modified. Adney has been recorded under many different variations, including Hodenet, Hignett, Hignet, Hodnet, Hodnett, Hodenett, Hodinett, Hodinutt, Hodinut, Hodinott, Hodinot, Hoddenett, Hoddinet, Hoddinutt and many more.

Early Notables of the Adney family

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

Migration of the Adney family to Ireland

Some of the Adney family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 104 words (7 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 Adney family

To escape the uncertainty of the political and religious uncertainty found in England, many English families boarded ships at great expense to sail for the colonies held by Britain. The passages were expensive, though, and the boats were unsafe, overcrowded, and ridden with disease. Those who were hardy and lucky enough to make the passage intact were rewarded with land, opportunity, and social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families went on to be important contributors to the young nations of Canada and the United States where they settled. Adneys were some of the first of the immigrants to arrive in North America: Humphrey Hadnett, who sailed to Virginia in 1635; Elizabeth and James Hignett sailed to Maryland in 1666; John Hignett to Maryland in 1675; Francis Hadnett arrived in Boston Massachusetts in 1767.

Contemporary Notables of the name Adney (post 1700) +

Roy W. Adney (b. 1879), American Democratic Party politician, Boone County Attorney, 1909-20; Candidate for U.S. Representative from Indiana 9th District, 1926 5
John Adney Emerton FBA (1928-2015), British hebraist, Regius Professor of Hebrew at the University of Cambridge from 1968 to 1995
Adney Meadows, American Democratic Party politician, Mayor of Hinton, West Virginia, 1934 6

Citations +

Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 15) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 19) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html