Horsey History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland
Scotland

Early Origins of the Horsey family

The surname Horsey was first found in Northumberland at Horsley, a township, in the parish of Ovingham, about 9 miles from Newcastle-upon-Tyne. There is also a parish named Horsley, in Gloucestershire and another parish, so named in Derbyshire.

"In the reign of Henry III., Malveysin de Hercy, doubtless a descendant of the Hercy, of the Battle Roll, was Constable of Tykhill. He acquired by his marriage with Theophania, daughter and coheir of Gilbert de Arches, the estate of Grove, Nottinghamshire, and became ancestor of the Hercys of that place; and also of the Hercys of Cruchfield, Berkshire, now represented by John Hercy, Esq. of Cruchfield." 1

The parish of Horsey-next-the-Sea in Norfolk is another likely source of the name 2 3

The name is derived from the Old English words "hors" + "leah," and literally means "clearing or pasture where horses are kept." 4 The parishes in Derbyshire and Gloucestershire were both listed as Horselei in the Domesday Book in 1086. 5

At one time the family held a manor in Long Horsley. "The manor was at an early period the property of the Merlays; after them the Greystocks held it; and the Horsleys possessed lands here from an early period, till their heiress married into the family of Widdrington." 6

Some of the first records of the family include: William de Horseia who was listed in the Pipe Rolls for Hampshire in 1182; William de Horseye, found in the Assize Rolls for Somerset in 1268 and John atte Horsee, listed in the Subsidy Rolls for Surrey in 1332. 2

And from the last entry, we find the parish Horsell in Surrey dating back to at least the 13th century when it was recorded as Horisell. The place name takes it name from the Old English "hors" + "eg" and literally means "shelter for animals in a muddy place." 4 Horsell Common was the site in H. G. Wells novel The War of the Worlds of the first Martian landing.

Thomas de Horseye was Bailiff of Yarmouth in 1269 7 and the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 list: Alicia de Horsey, Norfolk; and Mathew de Horseye, Norfolk. 8

In Somerset, John de Horsy was listed there 1 Edward III (during the first year of King Edward III's reign.) 9

In Scotland, the Horsley variant was prevalent as in "Richard de Horsleye of the county of Lanark, who rendered homage in 1296 most probably derived his surname from Horsley in Northumberland. The lands of the Horsselys in Lanarkshire are recorded as forfeited in 1369." 10

Early History of the Horsey family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Horsey research. Another 62 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1546, 1547, 1550, 1573, 1583, 1626, 1627, 1685 and 1732 are included under the topic Early Horsey History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Horsey Spelling Variations

Although the name, Horsey, appeared in many references, from time to time, the surname was shown with the spellings Horsley, Horsey, de Horsey, O'Horsey and others.

Early Notables of the Horsey family

Notable amongst the family name during their early history was

Sir John Horsey (died 1546), knight of Henry VIII and Lord of the Manor of Clifton Maubank
Sir Edward Horsey (d. 1583), was a naval and military commander, a member of a family of considerable note in Dorsetshire, connected with Clifton Maubank (now Maybank), Wyke in Sherborne, and Melcombe...
Sir Jerome Horsey (fl. 1573-1627), was an English traveller, son of William Horsey, who was probably brother of George Horsey of Digswell in Hertfordshire, and of Sir Edward Horsey [q. v.], Governor o...
Admiral Algernon Horsey, was a distinguished scion of the family in Suffolk; and Sir Jerome Horsey (c.1550-1626), of Great Kimble, Buckinghamshire, was an English explorer, diplomat and politician who...

Migration of the Horsey family to Ireland

Some of the Horsey 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.

Horsey migration to the United States +

Gradually becoming disenchanted with life in Ireland many of these uprooted families sailed aboard the armada of sailing ships known as the "White Sails" which plied the stormy Atlantic. These overcrowded ships often arrived with only 60 to 70% of their original passenger list, many dying of cholera, typhoid, dysentery or small pox. In North America, some of the first immigrants who could be considered kinsmen of the Horsey family name Horsey, or who bore a variation of the surname were

Horsey Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Abagain Horsey, who landed in Maryland in 1661 11
Mary Horsey, who landed in Maryland in 1661 11
John Horsey, who landed in Maryland in 1661 11
Samuel Horsey, who arrived in Maryland in 1661 11
Sarah Horsey, who landed in Maryland in 1661 11
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Horsey Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Thomas and Mary Horsey, who settled in Boston in 1766

Contemporary Notables of the name Horsey (post 1700) +

Henry Ridgely Horsey (1924-2016), American jurist, Member of the Delaware Supreme Court (1978-1994)
Michael J. Horsey (b. 1949), American politician, former Democratic member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
David Horsey (b. 1951), American two-time winner (1999 and 2003) of the Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Cartooning
David Horsey (b. 1985), English professional golfer
Spencer Horsey de Horsey (1790-1860), born Spencer Horsey Kilderbee, British Tory politician
Elmer Horsey Wingate (1928-2016), American football player for the Baltimore Colts (1953)

Citations +

Burke, John Bernard, The Roll of Battle Abbey. London: Edward Churton, 26, Holles Street, 1848, Print.
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Rye, Walter, A History of Norfolk. London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, 1885. Print
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
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.
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)
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)