Hony History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The surname Hony is Anglo-Saxon in origin. It is derived from the Old English "hunig," meaning "honey," and was used to refer to someone who gathered or sold honey, or to someone who kept bees. Alternatively, Hony was a Middle English term of endearment, meaning "sweetheart" or "darling," and may have evolved from nickname to surname during the Middle Ages.

Early Origins of the Hony family

The surname Hony was first found in Worcestershire at the end of the 13th century. The origins of the surname make it likely that several branches of the family emerged independently during this period. The earliest record of the name dates back to 1275, when Geoffrey Hony was recorded in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire.

Early History of the Hony family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hony research. Another 122 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1275, 1279, 1296, 1771, 1776, 1788, 1842, 1855 and 1875 are included under the topic Early Hony History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hony 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 Hony 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. Scribes and monks in the Middle Ages spelled names they sounded, so it is common to find several variations that refer to a single person. The variations of the name Hony include: Honey, Hony, Honea and others.

Early Notables of the Hony family

Notables of the family at this time include

William Edward Hony (1788-1875), a British archdeacon, Charles Robertson Honey (c.1855), a British translator, and Samuel Robertson Honey (b. 1842), an American army captain

Migration of the Hony family to Ireland

Some of the Hony family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 59 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hony 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 Hony or a variant listed above:

Hony Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Mary Hony, who landed in Virginia in 1724 1

Hony migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Hony Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Carl R. Hony, aged 25, a labourer, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Dorette" in 1874 2

The Hony 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: Progredere ne regredere
Motto Translation: Advance, do not recede.

Citations +

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)
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 5th November 2010). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html