Show ContentsHambroh History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

In ancient Anglo-Saxon England, the ancestors of the Hambroh surname lived in the parish of Hanbury in the county of Oxford. 1

Henry de Hambury (fl. 1330), was an early English judge, the a son of Geoffrey de Hambury of Hambury or Hanbury in Worcestershire. 2 He was being briefly Lord Chief Justice of Ireland.

Early Origins of the Hambroh family

The surname Hambroh was first found in Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire, where evidence suggests they held a family seat before the Norman Conquest. Hambrook is a village and hamlet in the parish of Winterbourne, South Gloucestershire. Whereras, Handbrough is a parish, in the union of Witney, hundred of Wootton in the county of Oxford. Both villages have remained small through the ages. Hambrook had about 600 inhabitants and Handbrough (Hanborough) had about 1,000 inhabitants as of a census in the late 1800s. The latter villages dates back to at least the Domesday Book where it was listed as Haneberge 3 and literally meant "hill of a man called Hagena or Hana" derived from the Old English personal name + beorg. Hambrook also dates back to the Domesday Book where it was listed as Hanbroc. 3 In this case, the village literally meant "brook by the stone" from the Old English han + broc. 4

Early History of the Hambroh family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hambroh research. Another 153 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1086, 1273 and 1330 are included under the topic Early Hambroh History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hambroh Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Hambroh are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Hambroh include: Hambro, Hambrow, Hambury, Hamborough, Hamboro and others.

Early Notables of the Hambroh family

Another 43 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Hambroh Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Hambroh family to Ireland

Some of the Hambroh family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Hambroh family

Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Hambroh or a variant listed above: Daniel Hanbury who sailed to Massachusetts in 1635; Peter Hanbury to Virginia in 1639; Peter Hambro, to Philadelphia, Pa. in 1750; Benjamin Hambury to Virginia in 1774.



The Hambroh 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: Honestum utili praefero
Motto Translation: I prefer honesty to profit.


  1. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  2. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
  3. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  4. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)


Houseofnames.com on Facebook