Show ContentsHingeston History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Hingeston name has descended through the generations from the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. Their name comes from having lived in the village of Hinxton in the county of Cambridgeshire. This village dates back to at least the Domesday Book of 1086 where it was listed as Hestitone. 1 Years later, the village would be known as Hengstiton in 1202 and literally meant "estate associated with a man called Hengest," from the Old English personal name + "ing" + "tun." 2

Early Origins of the Hingeston family

The surname Hingeston was first found in Cambridgeshire, where evidence suggests they held a family seat before the Norman Conquest. Today Hingston Down is a hill near Gunnislake, Cornwall, and Hingston Down is a hill spur in Devon.

A scan over early rolls revealed John de Hyngeston in 1343 in the London Assize Rolls of Nuisance (1301-1431). 3

Early History of the Hingeston family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hingeston research. Another 109 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1273, 1612, 1642, 1661, 1662, 1663, 1664, 1666, 1683, 1721, 1775 and 1783 are included under the topic Early Hingeston History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hingeston Spelling Variations

Only recently has spelling become standardized in the English language. As the English language evolved in the Middle Ages, the spelling of names changed also. The name Hingeston has undergone many spelling variations, including Hingston, Hinkston, Hinkson, Hingeston, Hingson and others.

Early Notables of the Hingeston family

Distinguished members of the family include John Hingston (1612-1683), English composer, organist and viol player in the service of King Charles I, Oliver Cromwell, King Charles II and mentor to his 14-year-old godson, Henry Purcell. "From 1661 to 1666 Hingston was among the gentlemen of the Chapel Royal; in July 1663 his office is specified...
Another 54 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Hingeston Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Hingeston family to Ireland

Some of the Hingeston family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 86 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Hingeston family

To escape the unstable social climate in England of this time, many families boarded ships for the New World with the hope of finding land, opportunity, and greater religious and political freedom. Although the voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, those families that arrived often found greater opportunities and freedoms than they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make significant contributions to the rapidly developing colonies in which they settled. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Hingeston were among those contributors: Philip Hinkson, who sailed to Maine in 1640; William Hingson to Barbados in 1658; Elizabeth, Isaac and Jane Hinkson to San Francisco in 1851.


Contemporary Notables of the name Hingeston (post 1700) +

  • Brigadier William H Hingeston, of the South African Air Force


  1. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  2. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  3. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)


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