Show ContentsHembroh History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Hembroh is an ancient Anglo-Saxon surname that came from the Old French personal names Amauri and Emaurri. These are derived from the Old German personal name Amalric, which literally means work-rule.

Early Origins of the Hembroh family

The surname Hembroh was first found in Devon at Broadhembury which is also known as Hembury, a parish and former market-town in the union of Honiton. 1 Hembury is also the name of a Neolithic causewayed enclosure and Iron Age hill fort near Honiton in Devon and is thought to date back from the late fifth and early fourth century BC. Hembury Castle is an Iron Age Hill fort near Tythecott, south of Buckland Brewer. Some researchers believe that the name is related to the name Embury, but this is not the case as this name is a distinct Devon name whereas Embury hails from Somerset. 2 3

Early History of the Hembroh family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hembroh research. Another 66 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1327, 1377 and 1761 are included under the topic Early Hembroh History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hembroh Spelling Variations

The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries; therefore,spelling variations are common among early Anglo-Saxon names. As the form of the English language changed, even the spelling of literate people's names evolved. Hembroh has been recorded under many different variations, including Hembery, Hembry, Hembrow, Hembrough, Hemborough, Hembury, Hembergh, Hembro, Hembray, Hembree and many more.

Early Notables of the Hembroh family

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

Migration of the Hembroh family

For many English families, the political and religious disarray that shrouded England made the far away New World an attractive prospect. On cramped disease-ridden ships, thousands migrated to those British colonies that would eventually become Canada and the United States. Those hardy settlers that survived the journey often went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Hembroh or a variant listed above: Thomas Hembrow, who sailed to Barbados in 1659; Thomas Hembrow to America 1665; Joseph Hembray to Philadelphia, Pa. in 1684; John Hembrough, who settled in Illinois in 1835.



  1. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  2. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  3. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.


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