Show ContentsHemburay History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Hemburay is one of the oldest family names to come from the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. It is derived from the Old French personal names Amauri and Emaurri. These are derived from the Old German personal name Amalric, which literally means work-rule.

Early Origins of the Hemburay family

The surname Hemburay was first found in Devon at Broadhembury which is also known as Hembury, a parish and former market-town in the union of Honiton. 1 Hembury is also the name of a Neolithic causewayed enclosure and Iron Age hill fort near Honiton in Devon and is thought to date back from the late fifth and early fourth century BC. Hembury Castle is an Iron Age Hill fort near Tythecott, south of Buckland Brewer. Some researchers believe that the name is related to the name Embury, but this is not the case as this name is a distinct Devon name whereas Embury hails from Somerset. 2 3

Early History of the Hemburay family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hemburay research. Another 66 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1327, 1377 and 1761 are included under the topic Early Hemburay History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hemburay Spelling Variations

Only recently has spelling become standardized in the English language. As the English language evolved in the Middle Ages, the spelling of names changed also. The name Hemburay has undergone many spelling variations, including Hembery, Hembry, Hembrow, Hembrough, Hemborough, Hembury, Hembergh, Hembro, Hembray, Hembree and many more.

Early Notables of the Hemburay family

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

Migration of the Hemburay family

To escape the unstable social climate in England of this time, many families boarded ships for the New World with the hope of finding land, opportunity, and greater religious and political freedom. Although the voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, those families that arrived often found greater opportunities and freedoms than they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make significant contributions to the rapidly developing colonies in which they settled. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Hemburay were among those contributors: Thomas Hembrow, who sailed to Barbados in 1659; Thomas Hembrow to America 1665; Joseph Hembray to Philadelphia, Pa. in 1684; John Hembrough, who settled in Illinois in 1835.



  1. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  2. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  3. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.


Houseofnames.com on Facebook