The surname Honywoit 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.
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Honywoit research. Another 182 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1510, 1600, 1106, 1548, 1455, 1487, 1604, 1619, 1625, 1632, 1743, 1527, 1620, 1527, 1543, 1586, 1666, 1654, 1656, 1632, 1601, 1686, 1659, 1677, 1752, 1597, 1681 and 1597 are included under the topic Early Honywoit History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
The first dictionaries that appeared in the last few hundred years did much to standardize the English language. Before that time, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. The language was changing, incorporating pieces of other languages, and the spelling of names changed with it. Honywoit has been spelled many different ways, including Honeywood, Honiwood, Huniwood, Honywood, Hunywood and many more.
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 Honywoit Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Thousands of English families in this era began to emigrate the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. Although the passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe, those who made the voyage safely were rewarded with opportunities unavailable to them in their homeland. Research into passenger and immigration lists has revealed some of the very first Honywoits to arrive in North America: 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.