Show ContentsHamburay History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Hamburay is part of the ancient legacy of the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. It is a product of when the family 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 Hamburay family

The surname Hamburay 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 Hamburay family

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

Hamburay Spelling Variations

The first dictionaries that appeared in the last few hundred years did much to standardize the English language. Before that time, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. The language was changing, incorporating pieces of other languages, and the spelling of names changed with it. Hamburay has been spelled many different ways, including Hambro, Hambrow, Hambury, Hamborough, Hamboro and others.

Early Notables of the Hamburay family

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

Ireland Migration of the Hamburay family to Ireland

Some of the Hamburay 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 Hamburay family

Thousands of English families in this era began to emigrate the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. Although the passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe, those who made the voyage safely were rewarded with opportunities unavailable to them in their homeland. Research into passenger and immigration lists has revealed some of the very first Hamburays to arrive in North America: 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 Hamburay 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)


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