Hornak History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The Anglo-Saxon name Hornak comes from the family having resided in one of the places called Hornby in Lancashire, Westmorland (now part of Cumbria), or the North Riding of Yorkshire. "This place is distinguished for its castle, which stands on the site of a Roman villa, on the summit of a bold rock of conical form, in many parts shrouded by trees, and washed by the Wenning at its base. The castle was originally founded soon after the Norman Conquest." 1

Early Origins of the Hornak family

The surname Hornak was first found in Lancashire at Hornby, a township and chapelry, and formerly a market-town, in the parish of Melling, hundred of Lonsdale. There are two Hornby Castles of note: the first in Lancashire which was originally built for the Neville family in the 13th century, and the second in Yorkshire, home to the St. Quintin family.

However, we must look to the latter shire to find the first record of the surname, namely William de Horneby, who was listed in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1205. John Hornby was listed in Gloucestershire in 1376. 2 The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 list the following: Johannes de Horneby and Agnes de Horneby. 3

Early History of the Hornak family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hornak research. Another 87 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1518, 1618, 1619, 1638, 1662 and 1668 are included under the topic Early Hornak History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hornak Spelling Variations

Hornak 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: Hornby, Hornbie and others.

Early Notables of the Hornak family

Notables of the family at this time include Henry Horneby (d. 1518), Master of Peterhouse, was perhaps a native of Lincolnshire. He became a member of Clare Hall, and was afterwards elected to a fellowship at Michaelhouse. 4William Hornby (fl. 1618), was English poet and was, "according to his own account, educated at Peterborough...
Another 54 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Hornak Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Hornak family

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 Hornaks to arrive on North American shores: Mary Hornby and Joseph Hornby arrived in Philadelphia with four children in 1820; Mercy Hornby settled in Virginia in 1735; Squire T. Hornby settled in Philadelphia in 1860.

Contemporary Notables of the name Hornak (post 1700) +

Mark Raymond Hornak (b. 1956), American jurist, Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania (2011-)
Ian Hornak (1944-2002), American draughtsman, painter and printmaker from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, one of the founding artists of the Hyperrealist and Photorealist art movements
Michal Hornák (b. 1970), Czech football manager and former player

Citations +

Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
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)
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print