Hertshurn History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The present generation of the Hertshurn family is only the most recent to bear a name that dates back to the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. Their name comes from having lived in the parish of Hartshorne, in the diocese of Lichfield and the county of Derbyshire. "This manor, called in Domesday Book Heorteshorne, then belonged to the family of Ferrers. " 1 The place name literally means "hill thought to resemble a hart's horn," from the Old English "herot" + "horn." 2

Another source explores the name in more practical terms, "the horn of the hart or male deer; an emblem or sign over a shop or inn, whence the name, 'Will at the Hartshorn.' " 3

Early Origins of the Hertshurn family

The surname Hertshurn was first found in Derbyshire, where the source "Testa de Nevill, sive Liber Feodorum, temp. Henry III-Edward I." listed: Henry de Hertishorn; and Richard de Hertishorn (Henry III-Edward. I.) (4

Early History of the Hertshurn family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hertshurn research. Another 51 words (4 lines of text) covering the year 1086 is included under the topic Early Hertshurn History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hertshurn Spelling Variations

Until the dictionary, an invention of only the last few hundred years, the English language lacked any comprehensive system of spelling rules. Consequently, spelling variations in names are frequently found in early Anglo-Saxon and later Anglo-Norman documents. One person's name was often spelled several different ways over a lifetime. The recorded variations of Hertshurn include Hartshorn, Hartshorne, Hertshorne, Hertshorn and many more.

Early Notables of the Hertshurn family

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

Migration of the Hertshurn family

Thousands of English families boarded ships sailing to the New World in the hope of escaping the unrest found in England at this time. Although the search for opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad took the lives of many because of the cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels, the opportunity perceived in the growing colonies of North America beckoned. Many of the settlers who survived the journey went on to make important contributions to the transplanted cultures of their adopted countries. The Hertshurn were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records: Susannah Hartshorn, who sailed to America in 1744; Dr. Hartshorne, who came to Boston, Massachusetts in 1764; Mary Hartshorne, who came to Pennsylvania in 1771.

Citations +

Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Arthur, William , An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. London: 1857. Print
Testa de Nevill or "Liber Feodorum" or "Book of Fees," thought to have been written by Ralph de Nevill, for King John (1199–1216)