Show ContentsHoord History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The ancient name of Hoord finds its origins with the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. It comes from a name for a "herdsman," having derived from the Old English word "hierde," meaning "herd." 1 2

Early Origins of the Hoord family

The surname Hoord was first found in Lincolnshire where William Lehird was listed in the Curia Regis Rolls. Thomas Hord was found in the Assize Rolls for Shropshire in 1221 and later, Reginald le Herd was listed in the Assize Rolls for Somerset in 1243. Later, Richard le Hurde was found in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1296. 3

Early History of the Hoord family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hoord research. Another 141 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1241, 1396, 1455, 1487, 1510, 1599, 1600, 1614, 1617, 1618, 1621, 1622, 1626, 1630, 1632, 1637, 1658 and 1982 are included under the topic Early Hoord History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hoord Spelling Variations

Sound was what guided spelling in the essentially pre-literate Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Also, before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Therefore, spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Hoord family name include Hord, Horde, Hoord, Hoorde, Hoard, Hoarde and others.

Early Notables of the Hoord family

Distinguished members of the family include Samuel Hoard (1599-1658), an English clergyman and controversialist in the Arminian interest, credited with the first successfully attack on Calvinistic doctrine by an English clergyman. He was "born in London in 1599, became either clerk or chorister of All Souls' College, Oxford, in 1614, was matriculated on 10 October 1617, and migrated to St. Mary Hall, where he graduated B.A. 20 April 1618, and commenced M.A. in 1621. He was incorporated in the latter...
Another 80 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Hoord Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Hoord family

For political, religious, and economic reasons, thousands of English families boarded ships for Ireland, the Canadas, the America colonies, and many of smaller tropical colonies in the hope of finding better lives abroad. Although the passage on the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving, those families that survived the trip often went on to make valuable contributions to those new societies to which they arrived. Early immigrants bearing the Hoord surname or a spelling variation of the name include : William Hord, who arrived at Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1623; Richard Hord, who came to Virginia in 1635; Francis Hord, who arrived in Virginia in 1664.



  1. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  2. Arthur, William , An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. London: 1857. Print
  3. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)


Houseofnames.com on Facebook