Show ContentsHorkesword History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

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Horkesword Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Etymology of Horkesword

What does the name Horkesword mean?

The name Horkesword is an old Anglo-Saxon name. It comes from when a family lived in one of two similarly-named places. The parish of Hawksworth is located eight miles from Newark in Nottinghamshire. The township of Hawksworth is in the parish of Arncliffe in the West Riding of Yorkshire. The surname Horkesword belongs to the large category of Anglo-Saxon habitation names, which are derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads.

Early Origins of the Horkesword family

The surname Horkesword was first found in Nottinghamshire where Laurence de Houkeswurda was listed in the Pipe Rolls of 1194. Later we found Robert de Hauekeswrth in the Feet of Fines for Yorkshire in 1226 and later again, John Hawkesworth was listed in the Assize Rolls for Lincolnshire in 1395. 1

The family were strongest in the West Riding of Yorkshire at Hawksworth, which "comprises by computation 2000 acres, chiefly the property of F. Hawkesworth Fawkes, Esq., who is Lord of the Manor." 2

The parish dates back to Saxon times when it was known as Hafecesweorthe c. 1030. 3 By the time of the Domesday Book of 1086, the parish was known as Hauocesorde. 4

The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 listed: Johannes de Haukesworth, wright; Willelmus de Haukesworth, wright; and Anabilla de Hewkesworth, vidua. 5 In each case, the occupation of the entry appeared after the surname.

William de Hawkesworth (died 1349) was an English medieval college head and university chancellor, Provost of Oriel College, Oxford in 1348.

The Hawkesworth Baronetcy (also Hawksworth and Hoxworth), of Hawksworth, near Guiseley in West Yorkshire, was created in 1678 for Walter Hawkesworth (1660-1683). His son, the second Baronet (died 1735) was High Sheriff of Yorkshire in 1721, and was twice president of the Masonic lodge at York. The title became extinct on his death in 1735.

Early History of the Horkesword family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Horkesword research. Another 79 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1573, 1606, 1715, 1744, 1746, 1749, 1761 and 1773 are included under the topic Early Horkesword History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Horkesword Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years, the English language had no fast system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations are commonly found in early Anglo-Saxon surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Horkesword were recorded, including Hawkesworth, Hawksworth, Hawkeworth and others.

Early Notables of the Horkesword family

Walter Hawkesworth (c. 1573-1606), an English dramatist, the second son of Walter Hawkesworth of Hawkesworth, Yorkshire, by his wife Isabel, daughter and coheiress of Thomas Colthurst of Edisforth in the same county. 6 John Hawkesworth (c.1715-1773), was an English writer. He was commissioned by the Admiralty to edit Captain James Cook's papers relative to his first voyage. He was of humble origin. In his youth he was 'a hired clerk to one Harwood, an attorney in Grocers' Alley in the Poultry.' In 1744 he is said...
Another 85 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Horkesword Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Horkesword family

To escape oppression and starvation at that time, many English families left for the "open frontiers" of the New World with all its perceived opportunities. In droves people migrated to the many British colonies, those in North America in particular, paying high rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Although many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, those who did see the shores of North America perceived great opportunities before them. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Research into various historical records revealed some of first members of the Horkesword family emigrate to North America: John Hawksworth settled in Barbados in 1680; along with William, and his servants; Charles and Thomas Hawksworth arrived in Philadelphia in 1860; Thomas Hawkesworth settled in Boston in 1635.
  1. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  2. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  3. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  4. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  5. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  6. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print

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