Show ContentsHornihould History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The ancestors of the Hornihould surname lived among the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. The name comes from when they lived in village of Horninghold in the county of Leicestershire.

Early Origins of the Hornihould family

The surname Hornihould was first found in Leicestershire, where the name is associated with the parish of Horninghold, in the union of Uppingham, hundred of Gartree. Originally listed as Horniwale in the Domesday Book of 1086, it was the property of Robert de Tosny at that time. 1 By 1163, the parish and village was known as Horningewald. The place name literally meant "woodland of the people living at the horn-shaped piece of land" from the Old English words "horn" + "-inga" + "wald." 2 The first recorded ancestor is John de Hornyold of Leicestershire, during the reign of Edward III (1327-1377.) 3

Early History of the Hornihould family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hornihould research. Another 92 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1533, 1680, 1709, 1715, 1718 and 1719 are included under the topic Early Hornihould History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hornihould Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, French and other languages became incorporated into English through the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Hornihould include Horninghold, Hornyhold, Hornihold, Hornyold, Horniold, Horniolde, Hornyolde, Hornigold and many more.

Early Notables of the Hornihould family

Distinguished members of the family include John Hornyold, Knight of Malta, Governor of Calais and Auditor of the Exchequer in the 16th century. On the more infamous side, Captain Benjamin Hornigold (c. 1680-1719) an English pirate, active 1715 to 1718 after which he turned into a pirate hunter...
Another 48 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Hornihould Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Hornihould family

A great wave of immigration to the New World was the result of the enormous political and religious disarray that struck England at that time. Families left for the New World in extremely large numbers. The long journey was the end of many immigrants and many more arrived sick and starving. Still, those who made it were rewarded with an opportunity far greater than they had known at home in England. These emigrant families went on to make significant contributions to these emerging colonies in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers carried this name or one of its variants: William and Katherine Horniolde, who sailed to Barbados in 1678; Thomas Honihold to Barbados in 1679; and William Horniold to Barbados in 1680.



The Hornihould 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: Fidem tene
Motto Translation: Keep the faith


  1. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  2. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  3. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)


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