The name Horns is rooted in the ancient
Anglo-Saxon culture. It was originally a name for someone who worked as a person who carved objects out of horn or made musical instruments. This name was also given to a person who was employed as a hornblower; in the Middle Ages, workmen were often summoned to work by the blowing of a horn. The surname Horns may also be a
patronym derived from the
personal name Horn. It may also be a
local name given to someone who lived in one of the settlements of Horne in Rutland,
Somerset, or
Surrey, or near a bend, spur, or tongue of land.
Another source notes that the name is "a well-known Old English personal name, probably of Norse origin. Aluuin Horne was listed in the Domesday Book of 1086." [1]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 Origins of the Horns family
The surname Horns was first found in Middlesex and
Hertfordshire where "Alwin Horne held lands before the making of the Domesday."
[2]CITATION[CLOSE]
Lowe, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print. "The name of Horn or Horne, at present well represented around Wisbech, is also found in
Kent. It was also represented in these two counties in the 13th century, as well as in London,
Suffolk,
Sussex,
Oxfordshire,
Cambridgeshire, Hunts, Northamptonshire, and Wiltshire."
[3]CITATION[CLOSE]
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 list: Adam Honi in Wiltshire; Henry Horn in Northamptonshire; Walter Horn in Oxfordshire; and Roger de Horne in Kent. [4]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) Over in Somerset, Kirby's Quest listed: William atte Horn and Thomas atte Home, temp 1 Edward III (in the first year of Edward III's reign. [5]CITATION[CLOSE]
Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
Further to the north, "John Horn was beaten and evil-treated on the Border, 1279." [1]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) The "border" referenced was indeed the infamous border between England and Scotland and events such as this may have precipitated King Edward I's intrusion into Scotland a few years later in 1296.
Early History of the Horns family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Horns research.
Another 356 words (25 lines of text) covering the years 1086, 1279, 1400, 1434, 1404, 1406, 1407, 1487, 1540, 1510, 1579, 1560, 1580 and 1568 are included under the topic Early Horns History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Horns Spelling Variations
It is only in the last few
hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early
Anglo-Saxon surnames like Horns are characterized by many
spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Horns include Horn, Horne, Athorne, Athorn and others.
Early Notables of the Horns family (pre 1700)
Notables of the family at this time include Henry Horne (
fl. 1400-1434), an English politician, Member of Parliament for
Kent in 1404 and Sheriff of
Kent (1406-1407); Sir William Whorne, Lord Mayor of London in 1487; Brother William Horne (d. 1540), one of the "Carthusian Martyrs"; and Robert...
Another 48 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Horns Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Horns family to Ireland
Some of the Horns family moved to
Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 82 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Horns family to the New World and Oceana
Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Horns or a variant listed above:
Horns Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
- Anthony Horns, who landed in Virginia in 1665 [6]CITATION[CLOSE]
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Horns Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
- Chn Gerdnik Horns, aged 29, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1787 [6]CITATION[CLOSE]
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Horns Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
- Antoino Horns, aged 18, who arrived in New Orleans, La in 1836 [6]CITATION[CLOSE]
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
The Horns 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: Nil desperandum
Motto Translation: Never despairing.