Show ContentsHorburey History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The ancient roots of the Horburey family name are in the Anglo-Saxon culture. The name Horburey comes from when the family lived in the settlement of Horbury in the West Riding of Yorkshire. "This place is of ancient date, having been known previous to the Domesday survey." 1 At that time, it was known as Horberie and literally meant "stronghold on muddy land," from the Old English words "horu" + burh." 2

Early Origins of the Horburey family

The surname Horburey was first found in Yorkshire, where Jordan de Hordbir was the first found in the Assize Rolls of 1204. 3

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 had only one entry for the family: John de Horbiry, Yorkshire. The Placita de Quo Warranto, temp. Edward I-III. had two entries: John de Horbiry, Bedfordshire and Elizabet de Horbiry, Bedfordshire, both 20 Edward I (during the twentieth year of Edward I's reign.) 4

In Norfolk, William de Horbury was rector of Ashill in 1335 5 and later, the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls included: Robert Horbery, tayllour and Johannes de Horbyry. 4

Early History of the Horburey family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Horburey research. Another 81 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1086, 1273, 1634, 1707, 1726, 1729, 1730, 1733 and 1773 are included under the topic Early Horburey History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Horburey Spelling Variations

One relatively recent invention that did much to standardize English spelling was the printing press. However, before its invention even the most literate people recorded their names according to sound rather than spelling. The spelling variations under which the name Horburey has appeared include HorBerry, Horbury, Horbiry, Horberie, Horbery and many more.

Early Notables of the Horburey family

Distinguished members of the family include Matthew HorBerry (1707?-1773), English divine, born at Haxey, Lincolnshire, about 1707, was the son of Martin Horbery, vicar of Haxey and rector of Althorpe in the same county. After attending schools at Epworth...
Another 39 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Horburey Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Horburey family

At this time, the shores of the New World beckoned many English families that felt that the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. Thousands left England at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. A great portion of these settlers never survived the journey and even a greater number arrived sick, starving, and without a penny. The survivors, however, were often greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. These English settlers made significant contributions to those colonies that would eventually become the United States and Canada. An examination of early immigration records and passenger ship lists revealed that people bearing the name Horburey arrived in North America very early: John Horby, who sailed to Philadelphia in 1876.



  1. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  2. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  3. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  4. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  5. Rye, Walter, A History of Norfolk. London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, 1885. Print


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