Show ContentsHorby History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Horby has a long Anglo-Saxon heritage. The name comes from when a 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 Horby family

The surname Horby 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 Horby family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Horby 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 Horby History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Horby Spelling Variations

Spelling variations in names were a common occurrence before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate spelled their names differently as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Horby have been found, including HorBerry, Horbury, Horbiry, Horberie, Horbery and many more.

Early Notables of the Horby 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 Horby Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Horby migration to the United States +

Families began migrating abroad in enormous numbers because of the political and religious discontent in England. Often faced with persecution and starvation in England, the possibilities of the New World attracted many English people. Although the ocean trips took many lives, those who did get to North America were instrumental in building the necessary groundwork for what would become for new powerful nations. Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America bore the name Horby, or a variant listed above:

Horby Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • 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


Houseofnames.com on Facebook