Hensmans History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

• Origins Available:
• England

Etymology of Hensmans

The saga of the name Hensmans follows a line reaching back through history to the days of the Anglo-Saxon tribes in Britain. It was a name for someone who worked as a groom, squire, or page. The surname Hensmans 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 Hensmans family

Early History of the Hensmans family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hensmans 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 Hensmans History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hensmans Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years, the English language had no fast system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations are commonly found in early Anglo-Saxon surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Hensmans were recorded, including Henchman, Hensman, Hinxman, Hinchman, Hincksman and many more.

Early Notables of the Hensmans family

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 Griffiths of Carnarvon, was born at Barton Seagrove, Northamptonshire, in the house of Owen Owens, the rector of the parish, whose wife was his mother's sister. He was...
Another 61 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Hensmans Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Hensmans family

To escape oppression and starvation at that time, many English families left for the "open frontiers" of the New World with all its perceived opportunities. In droves people migrated to the many British colonies, those in North America in particular, paying high rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Although many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, those who did see the shores of North America perceived great opportunities before them. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Research into various historical records revealed some of first members of the Hensmans family emigrate to North America: Daniel Henchman, who sailed to Boston, Massachusetts in 1635; Richard Hensman, who came to Barbados in 1664; Anne Hinxman who came to Maryland in 1677.