Show ContentsHumborst History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Humborst family

The surname Humborst was first found in Lincolnshire at Humberston, a large sea coast village and civil parish to the south of Cleethorpes, North East Lincolnshire. The village takes its name from a large boulder, the Humber Stone, which can still be seen at the entrance to the village library.

The village dates back to the Domesday Book 1 where is was recorded as Humbrestone and literally meant "place by the boundary stone in the River Humber" 2

Hence, conjecturally, the surname is descended from the tenant of the lands of Humberston, held by Ivo Tailbois, chief tenant who was recorded in the Domesday Book census of 1086.

Early History of the Humborst family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Humborst research. Another 197 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1102, 1186, 1476, 1510, 1560 and 1600 are included under the topic Early Humborst History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Humborst Spelling Variations

Anglo-Norman names tend to be marked by an enormous number of spelling variations. This is largely due to the fact that Old and Middle English lacked any spelling rules when Norman French was introduced in the 11th century. The languages of the English courts at that time were French and Latin. These various languages mixed quite freely in the evolving social milieu. The final element of this mix is that medieval scribes spelled words according to their sounds rather than any definite rules, so a name was often spelled in as many different ways as the number of documents it appeared in. The name was spelled Humberston, Humerston, Humberstone, Humblestone, Humbleston, Hummerston, Hummerstone, Humerston, Humerstone, Hunbertson, Hubertson, Humberson, Humerston, Humberstone, Umberston, Umberstone and many more.

Early Notables of the Humborst family

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

Migration of the Humborst family

Because of the political and religious discontent in England, families began to migrate abroad in enormous numbers. Faced with persecution and starvation at home, the open frontiers and generally less oppressive social environment of the New World seemed tantalizing indeed to many English people. The trip was difficult, and not all made it unscathed, but many of those who did get to Canada and the United States made important contributions to the young nations in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers with Humborst name or one of its variants: John Humberston, who arrived in Maryland in 1661; Henry Humberstone, who arrived in New Haven, CT between the years 1620-1650; as well as John Humberstone Sr., who was recorded in the census of Ontario of 1871..



  1. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  2. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)


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