The founding heritage of the Horrach family is in the Anglo-Saxon culture that once dominated in Britain. The name Horrach comes from when one of the family worked as a shipwright or a sailor. The surname Horrach is derived from the Old English word horrok, which means part of a ship. [1]
Occupational names frequently were derived from the principal object associated with the activity of the original bearer, such as tools or products. These types of occupational surnames are called metonymic surnames.
The surname Horrach was first found in Lancashire at Horrocksford. [2]
"This surname is derived from a geographical locality. 'Of Horrocks,' probably the spot known as Horrocksford Hall, in the parish of Clitheroe, Lancashire." [3]
The first record of the family was actually found in Berkshire where John Horroc was listed in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1279. [1]
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Horrach research. Another 79 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1584, 1596, 1604, 1777, 1619, 1641, 1639, 1619 and 1617 are included under the topic Early Horrach History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
The first dictionaries that appeared in the last few hundred years did much to standardize the English language. Before that time, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. The language was changing, incorporating pieces of other languages, and the spelling of names changed with it. Horrach has been spelled many different ways, including Horrocks, Horrock, Horrox, Horrocksford, Horrex and others.
Notables of the family at this time include Jeremiah Horrocks (1619-1641) English astronomer, born in Liverpool, who became curate of Hoole, Lancashire where he made his first observation of the transit of Venus on November 24, 1639. He then deduced the solar parallax, corrected the solar diameter and made tidal observations.
He was "born at Toxteth Park...
Another 56 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Horrach Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Thousands of English families in this era began to emigrate the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. Although the passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe, those who made the voyage safely were rewarded with opportunities unavailable to them in their homeland. Research into passenger and immigration lists has revealed some of the very first Horrachs to arrive in North America: Thomas Horrocks settled in Virginia in 1635; George, Jeremiah Horrock and George, Henry, John, Thomas, William Willoughby, Wright Horrocks, arrived in Philadelphia between 1820 and 1860..