Horsfield History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:

England

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The name Horsfield first arose amongst the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. It is derived from their having lived near a stable or horse pasture. The surname is derived from the Old English words hors, which means horse, and falod, which means enclosure or field. Horsfield may have also been given as an occupational surname to someone who worked at such a place.

Early Origins of the Horsfield family

The surname Horsfield was first found in Yorkshire where they held a family seat from very ancient times, some say well before the Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066 A.D.

Early History of the Horsfield family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Horsfield research. Another 50 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Horsfield History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Horsfield 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 Horsfield has appeared include Horsfield, Horsefield, Horsford, Horseford and many more.

Early Notables of the Horsfield family

Notables of this surname at this time include:

Horsfield of Horsfall

Migration of the Horsfield family to Ireland

Some of the Horsfield family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 53 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Horsfield migration to the United States +

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 Horsfield arrived in North America very early:

Horsfield Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

John Adam Horsfield, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1764 1
John Adam Horsfield, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1764 1

Horsfield migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Horsfield Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Mr. James Horsfield U.E. born in New York, USA who settled in Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1784 2
Mr. Thomas Horsfield U.E. born in New York, USA who settled in Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1784 2

Horsfield 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:

Horsfield Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mrs. Betsy Horsfield, (b. 1828), aged 33, English settler, from Lancashire travelling from London aboard the ship "Royal Stuart" arriving in Lyttlelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 8th October 1861 3
Mr. Charles Horsfield, (b. 1834), aged 27, English farm labourer, from Lancashire travelling from London aboard the ship "Royal Stuart" arriving in Lyttlelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 8th October 1861 3
Miss Harriet Horsfield, (b. 1857), aged 4, English settler, from Lancashire travelling from London aboard the ship "Royal Stuart" arriving in Lyttlelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 8th October 1861 3
Mr. Thomas Horsfield, (b. 1859), aged 2, English settler, from Lancashire travelling from London aboard the ship "Royal Stuart" arriving in Lyttlelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 8th October 1861 3
Mr. Horsfield, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Norfolk" arriving in Wellington, North Island, New Zealand on 18th June 1880 4

Contemporary Notables of the name Horsfield (post 1700) +

Thomas Horsfield MD (1773-1859), American physician and naturalist, eponym of Horsfield's tortoise or the Central Asian tortoise, Horsfield's fruit bat, Horsfield's treeshrew and many others 5
Rev. Thomas Walker Horsfield FSA (1792-1837), English Nonconformist minister, topographer, and historian 5
Geoffrey Malcolm "Geoff" Horsfield (b. 1973), English former professional footballer who played from 1992 to 2013 and football coach of Port Vale (2010-2011)
Debbie Horsfield (b. 1955), English theatre and television writer and producer
Craigie Horsfield (b. 1949), English artist who was nominated for the Turner Prize in 1996
Arthur Horsfield (b. 1946), English former footballer who played from 1963 to 1977
Dr. Gordon Christopher Horsfield C.B.E., British recipient of Commander of the Order of the British Empire on 17th June 2017, for services to Young People and to Charitable Giving
George Horsfield (1882-1956), British architect and archaeologist, Chief Inspector of Antiquities in Transjordan (1928-1936)
Corporal Kenneth Horsfield GC (1920-1944), British soldier who was posthumously awarded the George Cross for the courage he showed in attempting to rescue a comrade who was trapped and injured by an explosion in Italy in 1945