Show ContentsHorliche History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Horliche surname comes from the Old English words "har," meaning "grey" and "locc," which refers to a lock of hair. Thus the surname was most likely formed from a nickname for someone with a patch of grey hair.

Early Origins of the Horliche family

The surname Horliche was first found in Hampshire where the family name was first referenced in the year 1066 when Borewoldus Horloc held a family seat at Winton. The name literally means "grey lock" from the Old English words "har" + "locc." 1

Early History of the Horliche family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Horliche research. Another 85 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1187, 1206, 1455 and 1487 are included under the topic Early Horliche History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Horliche Spelling Variations

Sound was what guided spelling in the essentially pre-literate Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Also, before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Therefore, spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Horliche family name include Harlock, Horlock, Horlick, Harloch, Harlok, Horliche, Hollick and many more.

Early Notables of the Horliche family

More information is included under the topic Early Horliche Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Horliche family

For political, religious, and economic reasons, thousands of English families boarded ships for Ireland, Canada, the America colonies, and many of smaller tropical colonies in the hope of finding better lives abroad. Although the passage on the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving, those families that survived the trip often went on to make valuable contributions to those new societies to which they arrived. Early immigrants bearing the Horliche surname or a spelling variation of the name include: Edward Harlock, who arrived in Maryland in 1653; Alice Hollick, who settled in Virginia in 1663; Abram Harlock, who came to Virginia in 1666; George Harlock, who settled in Maryland in 1667.



  1. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)


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