Henbray History, Family Crest & Coats of ArmsOf all the Anglo-Saxon names to come from Britain, Henbray is one of the most ancient. The name is a result of the original family having lived in the parish of Hanbury in Staffordshire, Herefordshire or Worcestershire; or in Handborough, a parish in Oxfordshire. Hanbury literally means "high or chief fortified place," from the Old English words "heah" + "burh." The Staffordshire parish dates back to c.1185 when it was first listed as Hambury. The Herefordshire and Worcestershire parishes date back to Saxon times as Heanburh c. 765 and later were listed in the Domesday Book of 1086 1 as Hambyrie. Handbourgh literally means "hill of a man called Hagena of Hana," from the Old English personal name + "beorg." In this case, it was listed in the Domesday Book as Haneberge. 2 Early Origins of the Henbray familyThe surname Henbray was first found in Oxfordshire where in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, we found Walter de Haneber, or Haneberowe; and Robert de Haneberge listed at that time. The Testa de Nevill, sive Liber Feodorum Roll that was taken during the reigns of Henry III-Edward I., Richard de Hanburgh was listed in Northamptonshire; Alex, de Haneburgo was in Staffordshire; and John de Haneber was listed in Oxfordshire. 3 Kirby's Quest listed Thomas de Haneberwe and John de Haneberwe in Somerset in the first year of Edward III reign. 4 Years later, Phillip de Handbury was listed as rector of Wells, Norfolk in 1327. 5 Later the Hanbury family held estates in Church Langton, Leicestershire where "the church is an ancient and stately structure in the decorated English style, of remarkably light and elegant design. The Rev. William Hanbury, for many years incumbent of the parish, and remarkable for his benevolence, and his taste for the cultivation of trees, of which he had extensive plantations, in 1767 bequeathed the profits arising from his nurseries at different periods, to trustees, for the erection of a splendid church in the parish, and for the endowment of colleges, schools, hospitals, and literary and charitable institutions of every description." 6 By 1837, these funds had realized over £6,421 since 1773 and is a trust that is still earning funds today. Early History of the Henbray familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Henbray research. Another 104 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1538, 1574, 1592, 1628, 1629, 1658, 1664, 1715 and 1734 are included under the topic Early Henbray History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Henbray Spelling VariationsThe first dictionaries that appeared in the last few hundred years did much to standardize the English language. Before that time, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. The language was changing, incorporating pieces of other languages, and the spelling of names changed with it. Henbray has been spelled many different ways, including Hanbury, Hanby, Hinsbury, Hanbrogh, Hanbery and many more. Early Notables of the Henbray familyNotables of this surname at this time include: John Hanbury (1574-1658), an English politician, Member of Parliament for Gloucester (1628-1629), supported the Royalist cause in the English Civil War; John... Migration of the Henbray familyThousands of English families in this era began to emigrate the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. Although the passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe, those who made the voyage safely were rewarded with opportunities unavailable to them in their homeland. Research into passenger and immigration lists has revealed some of the very first Henbrays to arrive in North America: Daniel Hanbury settled in Boston Massachusetts in 1635; Nicholas Hanbury arrived in Barbados in 1680; William Hanbury settled in Boston in 1631; Richard Hanby settled in Barbados in 1634.
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