Horbiray History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The present generation of the Horbiray family is only the most recent to bear a name that dates back to the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. Their name comes from having lived in the settlement of Horbury in the West Riding of Yorkshire. "This place is of ancient date, having been known previous to the Domesday survey." 1 At that time, it was known as Horberie and literally meant "stronghold on muddy land," from the Old English words "horu" + burh." 2

Early Origins of the Horbiray family

The surname Horbiray was first found in Yorkshire, where Jordan de Hordbir was the first found in the Assize Rolls of 1204. 3

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 had only one entry for the family: John de Horbiry, Yorkshire. The Placita de Quo Warranto, temp. Edward I-III. had two entries: John de Horbiry, Bedfordshire and Elizabet de Horbiry, Bedfordshire, both 20 Edward I (during the twentieth year of Edward I's reign.) 4

In Norfolk, William de Horbury was rector of Ashill in 1335 5 and later, the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls included: Robert Horbery, tayllour and Johannes de Horbyry. 4

Early History of the Horbiray family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Horbiray research. Another 81 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1086, 1273, 1634, 1707, 1726, 1729, 1730, 1733 and 1773 are included under the topic Early Horbiray History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Horbiray Spelling Variations

Until the dictionary, an invention of only the last few hundred years, the English language lacked any comprehensive system of spelling rules. Consequently, spelling variations in names are frequently found in early Anglo-Saxon and later Anglo-Norman documents. One person's name was often spelled several different ways over a lifetime. The recorded variations of Horbiray include HorBerry, Horbury, Horbiry, Horberie, Horbery and many more.

Early Notables of the Horbiray family

Distinguished members of the family include Matthew HorBerry (1707?-1773), English divine, born at Haxey, Lincolnshire, about 1707, was the son of Martin Horbery, vicar of Haxey and rector of Althorpe in the same county. After attending schools at Epworth...
Another 39 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Horbiray Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Horbiray family

Thousands of English families boarded ships sailing to the New World in the hope of escaping the unrest found in England at this time. Although the search for opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad took the lives of many because of the cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels, the opportunity perceived in the growing colonies of North America beckoned. Many of the settlers who survived the journey went on to make important contributions to the transplanted cultures of their adopted countries. The Horbiray were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records: John Horby, who sailed to Philadelphia in 1876.

Citations +

Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Rye, Walter, A History of Norfolk. London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, 1885. Print