| ![Show Contents]() Hendershot History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 Scotland Ireland The saga of the Hendershot family name begins among the people of an ancient Scottish tribe called the Picts. The Hendershot name is derived from the personal name Hendry, which is a chiefly Scottish derivative of the name Henry. There were two main branches of the Hendershot family, one at Glencoe, in the lower Highlands, and one at Caithness, in the extreme north of Scotland. Early Origins of the Hendershot familyThe surname Hendershot was first found in Caithness, Glencoe, the Shetland Islands, Liddlesdale, and Fordell. One origin claims the Hendershot family descend from Great Henry, son of King Nechtan, who was also the progenitor of the MacDonalds of Glencoe. However, the branch of the Hendershot to whom this story relates also claim to have settled in the Glencoe territory many years before the Maclains or MacDonalds arrived there. This is consistent with the theory that this family are a branch of the northern family who moved south and became attached to the MacDonalds. Generally noted as great fighters, they became bodyguards of the Chief of the MacDonalds. They were also the hereditary pipers of that Clan, sometimes referred to as the Maclains. Later, in about 1530, there emerged another section of the Henderson Clan in the Border country of Liddesdale but the connection between this group and the main Clan is somewhat tenuous. However, it is known that many of the Highland Clans were invited, coerced or transported, sometimes as a whole sometimes as a branch, to the border country to provide better defenses against English attacks along the Border. Early History of the Hendershot familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hendershot research. Another 200 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1420, 1430, 1460, 1494, 1500, 1506, 1510, 1511, 1583, 1590, 1600, 1606, 1618, 1638, 1646, 1692 and 1865 are included under the topic Early Hendershot History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Hendershot Spelling VariationsRepeated and inaccurate translation of Scottish names from Gaelic to English and back resulted in a wide variety of spelling variations with single names. Hendershot has appeared Henderson, Henreyson, Henryson, MacKendrick and many more. Early Notables of the Hendershot familyNotable amongst the Clan at this time was James Henderson, of the Fordell line, who became Lord Advocate of Scotland in 1494. Perhaps the greatest Henderson of all was Alexander Henderson (c.1583-1646) of Fife, minister of Leuchars, who attended of St. Andrews University. In 1638, he drafted the National Covenant of Scotland, and is generally considered the "2nd founder," after Knox, of the Presbyterian church in Scotland. Robert Henryson (1430?-1506?) was a poet who flourished in Scotland in the period c. 1460-1500. He was...
Another 83 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Hendershot Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Hendershot RankingIn the United States, the name Hendershot is the 5,743rd most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 1  Migration of the Hendershot family to Ireland
Some of the Hendershot family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 129 words (9 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
| Hendershot migration to the United States | + |
Many Scottish families suffered enormous hardships and were compelled to leave their country of birth. They traveled to Ireland and Australia, but mostly to the colonies of North America, where many found the freedom and opportunity they sought. It was not without a fight, though, as many were forced to stand up and defend their freedom in the American War of Independence. The ancestors of these Scots abroad have rediscovered their heritage in the last century through the Clan societies and other organizations that have sprung up across North America. Immigration and passenger ship lists show some important early immigrants bearing the name Hendershot:
Hendershot Settlers in United States in the 20th Century- Alice M. Hendershot, aged 61, who immigrated to America from Mexico City, in 1906
- C. Pearl Hendershot, aged 30, who immigrated to Plymouth, Pennsylvania, in 1920
- Elizabeth Hendershot, aged 27, who settled in Meadville, Pennsylvania, in 1922
- Florence Hendershot, aged 47, who immigrated to Chicago, in 1922
- Hazel Hendershot, aged 33, who settled in Newton, New Jersey in 1923
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
| Hendershot migration to Canada | + |
Some of the first settlers of this family name were: Hendershot Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century- Mr. Peter Hendershot U.E. who settled in Home District [York County], Ontario c. 1784 2
Hendershot Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century- Walter Hendershot, aged 54, who settled in Hamilton, Canada, in 1922
| Contemporary Notables of the name Hendershot (post 1700) | + |
- Robert N. Hendershot, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania 20th District, 1960
- Clyde D. Hendershot, American politician, Burgess of Taylor, Pennsylvania, 1954-56
- Arlon Hendershot, American politician, Prohibition Candidate for Michigan State Senate 21st District, 1960
- Sara Hendershot (b. 1988), American two-time gold medalist rower
- Larry Leland Hendershot (b. 1944), former American NFL football linebacker
- Robert Henry Hendershot (1849-1925), known as the Drummer Boy of the Rappahannock, the American Civil War drummer boy who is known for his heroics at the Battle of Fredericksburg, December 1862
The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.
Motto: Sola virtus nobilitat
Motto Translation: Virtue alone ennobles.
- "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
- Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
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Hendershot migration to the United States 
Hendershot migration to Canada 
