The
Anglo-Saxon name Horly comes from the family having resided in Harley, a place-name found in
Shropshire and in the West Riding of
Yorkshire. The place-name is derived from the Old English words
hare, which meant hare or rabbit, and
leah, which meant forest clearing. The name as a whole meant "clearing with lots of rabbits." The original bearers of the name lived near or in such a clearing.
Early Origins of the Horly family
The surname Horly was first found in
Shropshire where "it appears that Edward and Hernulf, living in the first half of the twelfth century, were lords of Harley, and the ancestors of the race who were afterwards denominated therefrom. Sixth in descent from William de Harley living in 1231 was Sir Robert de Harley."
[1]CITATION[CLOSE]
Shirley, Evelyn Philip, The Noble and Gentle Men of England; The Arms and Descents. Westminster: John Bower Nichols and Sons, 1866, Print. "In an ancient leiger book of the abbey of Pershore, in
Worcestershire is a commemoration of a noble warrior of this name, who commanding an army under Ethelred, king of
England, in his wars against Sweyn, king of Denmark, gave the Danes a great defeat near that town, about the year 1013."
[2]CITATION[CLOSE]
Lowe, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print. By the
Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, the name was scattered throughout Britain: Henry de Herley in Berkshire; and Clemens de Herleghe in
Somerset. The
Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 lists Matilda Herlay and Willelmus Herlay.
[3]CITATION[CLOSE]
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6) Further north in
Scotland, listings of the family were found in
Fife and
Clackmannanshire.
[4]CITATION[CLOSE]
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
Early History of the Horly family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Horly research.
Another 101 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1098, 1782, 1319, 1354, 1558, 1549, 1579, 1656, 1624, 1700, 1664, 1735, 1703, 1735, 1695, 1698, 1661 and 1724 are included under the topic Early Horly History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Horly Spelling Variations
Horly has been spelled many different ways. Before English spelling became standardized over the last few
hundred years,
spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. As the English language changed in the Middle Ages, absorbing pieces of Latin and French, as well as other languages, the spelling of people's names also changed considerably, even over a single lifetime. Spelling variants included: Harley, Hurley, Harrily and others.
Early Notables of the Horly family (pre 1700)
Distinguished members of the family include William Hurley (known works 1319-1354), king's master carpenter for King Edward III; John Harley (died 1558), an English Bishop of Hereford; John Harley,
High Sheriff of
Herefordshire in 1549; Sir Robert Harley (1579-1656), an English statesman who served as Master of the...
Another 48 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Horly Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Horly family to Ireland
Some of the Horly family moved to
Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in
Ireland is included in all our
PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Horly family to the New World and Oceana
In an attempt to escape the chaos experienced in
England, many English families boarded overcrowded and diseased ships sailing for the shores of North America and other British colonies. Those families hardy enough, and lucky enough, to make the passage intact were rewarded with land and a social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families became important contributors to the young colonies in which they settled. Early immigration and passenger lists have documented some of the first Horlys to arrive on North American shores: Edmund Harley settled in Maryland in 1725; Charles, Dennis, Edward, James, John, Michael, Patrick, Thomas and William Harley, all arrived in Philadelphia between 1840 and 1860..
The Horly Motto
The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.
Motto: Virtute et fide
Motto Translation: By valour and faith.