Show ContentsHorburay History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Horburay name has descended through the generations from the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. 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 Horburay family

The surname Horburay 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 Horburay family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Horburay 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 Horburay History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Horburay 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 Horburay has undergone many spelling variations, including HorBerry, Horbury, Horbiry, Horberie, Horbery and many more.

Early Notables of the Horburay 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 Horburay Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Horburay 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 Horburay were among those contributors: John Horby, who sailed to Philadelphia in 1876.



  1. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  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)
  4. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  5. Rye, Walter, A History of Norfolk. London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, 1885. Print


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