Show ContentsHenchman History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Henchman is rooted in the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. It is a name for someone who worked as a groom, squire, or page. The surname Henchman is derived from the Old English words hengest, which means stallion, and mann, which means groom or servant. The latter word acquired its meaning of squire or page of honor in later times, in other words "an attendant upon a nobleman or personage of high distinction." 1

Early Origins of the Henchman family

The surname Henchman was first found in Northamptonshire near Seagrove, where they held a family seat from very early times.

Early History of the Henchman family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Henchman research. Another 50 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1592, 1669, 1675, 1684, 1691, 1694, 1702 and 1739 are included under the topic Early Henchman History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Henchman 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 Henchman 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 Henchman include: Henchman, Hensman, Hinxman, Hinchman, Hincksman and many more.

Early Notables of the Henchman family

Distinguished members of the family include

  • Humphrey Henchman (1592-1675), who was Bishop of Salisbury and later of London. He was "the third son of Thomas Henchman, skinner, of the city of London, by his wife Anne Griffiths, daughter of Robert...
  • Humphrey Henchman (1669-1739), was a civilian, grandson of Humphrey Henchman [q. v.], born in 1669, became a Westminster scholar in 1684, was elected to Christ Church, Oxford, proceeding B.A. 1691, M...


United States Henchman migration to the United States +

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 Henchman or a variant listed above:

Henchman Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Daniel Henchman, who sailed to Boston, Massachusetts in 1635
  • William Henchman, who landed in Boston, Massachusetts in 1653 2
  • Thomas Henchman, who arrived in New England in 1654 2
  • Jane Henchman, who landed in Maryland in 1665 2
  • Edward Henchman, who arrived in Maryland in 1665 2
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Henchman Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • G. Henchman, who arrived in Boston in 1822


  1. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  2. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)


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