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Horrocks History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Motto Citations

Horrocks History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The saga of the name Horrocks follows a line reaching back through history to the days of the Anglo-Saxon tribes in Britain. It was a name for someone who worked as a shipwright or a sailor. The surname Horrocks is derived from the Old English word horrok, which means part of a ship. 1

Occupational names frequently were derived from the principal object associated with the activity of the original bearer, such as tools or products. These types of occupational surnames are called metonymic surnames.

Early Origins of the Horrocks family

The surname Horrocks was first found in Lancashire at Horrocksford. 2

"This surname is derived from a geographical locality. 'Of Horrocks,' probably the spot known as Horrocksford Hall, in the parish of Clitheroe, Lancashire." 3

The first record of the family was actually found in Berkshire where John Horroc was listed in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1279. 1

Early History of the Horrocks family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Horrocks research. Another 79 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1584, 1596, 1604, 1617, 1619, 1639, 1641 and 1777 are included under the topic Early Horrocks History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Horrocks Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years, the English language had no fast system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations are commonly found in early Anglo-Saxon surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Horrocks were recorded, including Horrocks, Horrock, Horrox, Horrocksford, Horrex and others.

Early Notables of the Horrocks family

Notables of the family at this time include

Jeremiah Horrocks (1619-1641) English astronomer, born in Liverpool, who became curate of Hoole, Lancashire where he made his first observation of the transit of Venus on November 24, 1639. He then de...
He was "born at Toxteth Park, near Liverpool, in a house of which the site is now occupied by the Otterspool railway station. The traditional date is 1619, but 1617 is more likely correct. His father...

Horrocks Ranking

In the United States, the name Horrocks is the 9,228^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 4

Horrocks migration to the United States +

To escape oppression and starvation at that time, many English families left for the "open frontiers" of the New World with all its perceived opportunities. In droves people migrated to the many British colonies, those in North America in particular, paying high rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Although many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, those who did see the shores of North America perceived great opportunities before them. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Research into various historical records revealed some of first members of the Horrocks family emigrate to North America:

Horrocks Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Thomas Horrocks, who settled in Virginia in 1635
Tho Horrocks, aged 22, who landed in Virginia in 1635 5

Horrocks Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

James Horrocks, who landed in Virginia in 1761 5

Horrocks Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Edward Horrocks, aged 35, who arrived in Ohio in 1812 5
George, Henry, John, Thomas, William Willoughby, Wright Horrocks, who arrived in Philadelphia between 1820 and 1860
John Horrocks, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1865 5
George, Henry, John, Jonathon, Thomas, Willoughby, Wright, and William Horrocks all, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania between 1850 and 1870
Thomas Horrocks, who arrived in St Clair County, Illinois in 1873 5

Horrocks Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Arthur Horrocks, aged 4, who landed in America from Bolton, England, in 1907
Annie Horrocks, aged 13, who immigrated to the United States from North Shields, England, in 1914
David Horrocks, aged 42, who immigrated to America from Liverpool, England, in 1919
Alice Horrocks, aged 59, who immigrated to the United States from London, England, in 1921
Allan Horrocks, aged 15, who settled in America from Darwen, England, in 1921
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Horrocks migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Horrocks Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Miss Ann Horrocks, English convict who was convicted in Shropshire, England for life, transported aboard the "Earl of Liverpool" in December 1830, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 6
John Ainsworth Horrocks, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Katherine Stewart Forbes" in 1839 7
Eustace Horrocks, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Katherine Stewart Forbes" in 1839 7
James Horrocks, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Baboo" in 1840 8
Mr. Roger Horrocks, English convict who was convicted in Liverpool, Merseyside, England for 10 years, transported aboard the "Blundell" on 13th March 1844, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 9
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Horrocks migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Horrocks Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

William Horrocks, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Cossipore" in 1857
Sarah Horrocks, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Gertrude" in 1868 10
Thomas Horrocks, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Gertrude" in 1868 10
William Horrocks, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Gertrude" in 1868 10

Contemporary Notables of the name Horrocks (post 1700) +

Chris Horrocks (b. 1954), former Canadian international and North American Soccer League defender
Amy Elsie Horrocks (1867-1920), English music educator, composer and pianist
Mark Horrocks (b. 1977), former English cricketer
Victor Horrocks (1884-1922), English footballer
Jeremiah Horrocks (1618-1641), English astronomer
Barbara Jane Horrocks (b. 1964), English stage, screen and television actress, voice artist, musician, and singer
John Horrocks (1768-1804), British cotton manufacturer and Member of Parliament, the second son of a Quaker, born at The Birches, a small family property in the village of Edgeworth, near Bolton, Lancashire 11
Mrs. Clare Yvonne Horrocks O.B.E., British Principal Judge for War Pensions and Armed Forces Compensation Chamber, was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire on 8th June 2018, for services to the Armed Forces and to the Administration of Justice 12
Air Commodore Ian Horrocks (d. 2014), British Royal Air Force helicopter pilot, Station Commander RAF Shawbury (1978-1980), Commandant Royal Observer Corps (1986-1989)
Joseph Lucas Horrocks (1805-1866), English convict transported to Western Australia in 1852, who established the town of Northampton
... (Another 6 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Horrocks family +

Hillsborough disaster

Arthur Horrocks (1948-1989), English insurance agent who was attending the FA Cup semi-final at Hillsborough Stadium, in Sheffield, Yorkshire when the stand allocated area became overcrowded and 96 people were crushed in what became known as the Hillsborough disaster and he died from his injuries 13

USS Arizona

Mr. James William Horrocks, American Chief Gunner's Mate-Permanent from Arizona, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 14

The Horrocks Motto +

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: Spe
Motto Translation: By hope.

Citations +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 20th August 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-of-liverpool
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) KATHERINE STEWART FORBES 1837 arrived Holdfast Bay, near Adelaide, on October 17, 1837. . Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1837KatherineStewartForbes.htm
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) BABOO 1840. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1840Baboo.htm
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 25th October 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/blundell
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 12th December 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
Wikisource contributors. "Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900." Wikisource . Wikisource , 4 Jun. 2018. Web. 4 August 2020
"Birthday and New Year Honours Lists (1940 to 2019)." Issue 62507, 28 December 2018 | London Gazette, The Gazette, Dec. 2018, www.thegazette.co.uk/honours-lists
Hillsborough Victims (retreived 21st March 2021). Retreived from https://metro.co.uk/2019/04/15/remembering-96-victims-hillsborough-disaster-30-years-9206566/
Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html