Show ContentsHaythornthwaite History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The origins of the Haythornthwaite name come from when the Anglo-Saxon tribes ruled over Britain. The name Haythornthwaite was originally derived from a family having lived in the settlement of Hawthorn in the county of Durham, or near a hawthorn shrub or tree. Thus, the surname Haythornthwaite belongs both the category of habitation names, which are derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads, and to the class of topographic surnames, which were given to people who resided near physical features such as hills, streams, churches, or types of trees. The surname Haythornthwaite is derived from the Old English word haguthorn, which means hawthorn.

Early Origins of the Haythornthwaite family

The surname Haythornthwaite was first found in Durham at Hawthorn, a township in the parish of Easington. The township dates back to 1155 when it was originally spelt Hagethorn and literally meant "place at the hawthorn," from the Old English "hagu-thorn." [1] The place is most significant as "on the 5th of November, 1824, not less than 50 vessels perished in a storm immediately off this part, and the crews of all were lost, with the exception of the crew of one only, who were enabled to effect their escape by means of a rope, thrown from the vessel, and brought to land by a Newfoundland dog belonging to Major Anderson." [2] "The New England family of this name left this country [(England)] in or before 1634, and until recently wrote themselves Hathorne." [3] In Scotland, the name is an old Galloway name. "A family of the name were proprietors of Meikle or Over Aires in the parish of Kirkinner." [4] In other parts of England, the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 revealed: Galfridus Hackthom in Huntingdonshire; and John atte Horethorne in Somerset. [5]

Early History of the Haythornthwaite family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Haythornthwaite research. Another 143 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1273, 1455, 1484, 1602, 1606, 1628, 1630, 1641, 1681, 1692, 1717, 1804, 1864 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Haythornthwaite History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Haythornthwaite Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, French and other languages became incorporated into English through the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Haythornthwaite include Hawthorne, Hathorne, Hawthorn and others.

Early Notables of the Haythornthwaite family

Notables of the family at this time include Major William Hathorne (ca. 1606-1681), English immigrant to North America in 1630; and his son, John Hathorne (1641-1717), a merchant and magistrate of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, Justice of the Special Court...
Another 39 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Haythornthwaite Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Haythornthwaite family to Ireland

Some of the Haythornthwaite family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 60 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Haythornthwaite migration to the United States +

A great wave of immigration to the New World was the result of the enormous political and religious disarray that struck England at that time. Families left for the New World in extremely large numbers. The long journey was the end of many immigrants and many more arrived sick and starving. Still, those who made it were rewarded with an opportunity far greater than they had known at home in England. These emigrant families went on to make significant contributions to these emerging colonies in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers carried this name or one of its variants:

Haythornthwaite Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Albert Haythornthwaite, aged 18, who settled in America, in 1918
  • Harry Haythornthwaite, aged 28, who landed in America from Preston, England, in 1920
  • Walter Haythornthwaite, aged 46, who immigrated to America from Brierfield, England, in 1923
  • Frank Richard Haythornthwaite, aged 47, who immigrated to the United States from Blackburn, England, in 1924

Contemporary Notables of the name Haythornthwaite (post 1700) +

  • Philip J. Haythornthwaite (b. 1951), English military historian and author of over 40 books about the Napoleonic Wars
  • Prof. Josephine Angela Haythornthwaite B.E.M., British Convenor for Board of Trustees for Maryhill Integration Network was appointed the British Empire Medal on 8th June 2018, for services to Asylum Seekers in Glasgow [6]
  • Caroline Haythornthwaite, Canadian academic and the Director & Professor at the School of SLAIS, at The University of British Columbia (UBC)


The Haythornthwaite 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: Stabo
Motto Translation: I shall stand.


  1. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  2. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  3. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  4. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
  5. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  6. "Birthday and New Year Honours Lists (1940 to 2019)." Issue 62310, 31 October 2019 | London Gazette, The Gazette, June 2018, https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/62310/supplement/B1


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