Show ContentsHoneywold History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Honeywold family

The surname Honeywold was first found in Kent at "Henewood, near Postling where the ancestors of this family resided as early as the reign of Henry III." 1 The family name was first referenced in the 12th century when they held a family seat at Honywood, Elmsted, and Lenham.

Early History of the Honeywold family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Honeywold research. Another 182 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1106, 1455, 1487, 1510, 1527, 1543, 1548, 1586, 1597, 1600, 1601, 1604, 1619, 1620, 1625, 1632, 1654, 1656, 1659, 1666, 1677, 1681, 1686, 1743 and 1752 are included under the topic Early Honeywold History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Honeywold Spelling Variations

Sound was what guided spelling in the essentially pre-literate Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Also, before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Therefore, spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Honeywold family name include Honeywood, Honiwood, Huniwood, Honywood, Hunywood and many more.

Early Notables of the Honeywold family

Distinguished members of the family include Mary Honywood (1527-1620), daughter and coheiress of Robert Waters, Esquire, of Lenham, Kent, was born at that place in 1527. "In 1543, being then in her sixteenth year, she married Robert Honywood, Esquire, of Charing, and afterwards of Marks Hall, Essex, by whom she had sixteen children. Mrs. Honywood was chiefly celebrated for her longevity, and for the unprecedentedly large number of lineal descendants whom she lived to see. By her sixteen children she had 114 grandchildren, 228 great-grandchildren, and nine great-great-grandchildren, 367 in all. " 2 Sir Thomas Honeywood (1586-1666), an English politician who sat...
Another 110 words (8 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Honeywold Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Honeywold family

For political, religious, and economic reasons, thousands of English families boarded ships for Ireland, Canada, the America colonies, and many of smaller tropical colonies in the hope of finding better lives abroad. Although the passage on the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving, those families that survived the trip often went on to make valuable contributions to those new societies to which they arrived. Early immigrants bearing the Honeywold surname or a spelling variation of the name include: John Honywood, who arrived in America in 1638-1639; Philip Honywood, who settled in Virginia in 1649; Hen Honywood, who settled in Virginia in 1670; Wel Honywood, who arrived in Virginia in 1675.



The Honeywold 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: Omne bonum desuper
Motto Translation: Every good is from above.


  1. Shirley, Evelyn Philip, The Noble and Gentle Men of England; The Arms and Descents. Westminster: John Bower Nichols and Sons, 1866, Print.
  2. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print


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