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Show ContentsHorsley History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
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Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

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Early Origins of the Horsley family

The surname Horsley 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

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 Horsley family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Horsley 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 Horsley History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Horsley Spelling Variations

The name, Horsley, occurred in many references, and from time to time, it was spelt Horsley, Horsey, de Horsey, O'Horsey and others.

Early Notables of the Horsley family

Notable amongst the family name during their early history was

  • Sir John Horsley was knighted at the Battle of Musselburgh in 1547. Later he was made Captain of Banborough Castle

Horsley Ranking

In the United States, the name Horsley is the 4,307th most popular surname with an estimated 7,461 people with that name. 11

Ireland Migration of the Horsley family to Ireland

Some of the Horsley 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.

United States Horsley migration to the United States +

The New World beckoned settlers from the Scottish-English borders. They sailed aboard the armada of sailing ships known as the "White Sails" which plied the stormy Atlantic. Some called them, less romantically, the "coffin ships." Among the early settlers bearing the Horsley surname who came to North America were:

Horsley Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Joseph and Jane Horsley, who settled in Virginia in 1652
  • Jane Horsley, who landed in Virginia in 1652 12
  • William Horsley, who arrived in Virginia in 1658 12
  • Rebecca Horsley, who landed in Maryland in 1663 12
  • Joseph Horsley, who landed in Rowley, Massachusetts in 1699 12
Horsley Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • John H Horsley, who arrived in New York in 1839 12

Australia Horsley migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Horsley Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Miss Ann Horsley, English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Canada" in March 1810, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 13
  • Mr. Thomas Horsley who was convicted in Essex, England for life, transported aboard the "David Malcolm" on 13th May 1845, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) and Norfolk Island 14
  • Ann Horsley, aged 20, a domestic servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1854 aboard the ship "David Malcolm" 15
  • Joseph Horsley, aged 19, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1856 aboard the ship "Nimroud"

New Zealand Horsley migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Horsley Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Richard Horsley, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Egmont" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 14th June 1858 16
  • William A. Horsley, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Bombay" in 1863 17
  • Elizabeth Horsley, who arrived in Lyttelton, New Zealand aboard the ship "Blairgowrie" in 1875

Contemporary Notables of the name Horsley (post 1700) +

  • Jamie P Horsley, American Deputy Director of the China Law Center, senior research scholar in law, and lecturer in law at Yale Law School
  • William Horsley (1774-1858), English musician and composer, descendant of an old Northumbrian family, whose castle still stands near Morpeth, born on 15 Nov. 1774 18
  • Charles Edward Horsley (1822-1876), English musician, son of William Horsley, born in London 16 Dec. 1822 18
  • John Callcott Horsley RA (1817-1903), English Academic painter of genre and historical scenes, illustrator, and designer of the first Christmas card
  • Sir Victor Horsley MD (1857-1916), English surgeon who became one of the earliest pioneers in Neurosurgery
  • Colin Horsley, English classical pianist
  • Samuel Horsley (1733-1806), British churchman, Bishop of Rochester (1792 to 1806) son of John Horsley, by his first wife, Anne, daughter of William Hamilton, D.D., principal of Edinburgh University 18
  • Mervin Horsley, Australian economist
  • Benjamin Horsley Littleton (1889-1966), American jurist, judge of the United States Court of Claims
HMS Repulse
  • Mr. Alfred Horsley, British Mechanician 1st Class, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and died in the sinking 19
  1. Burke, John Bernard, The Roll of Battle Abbey. London: Edward Churton, 26, Holles Street, 1848, Print.
  2. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  3. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  4. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  5. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  6. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  7. Rye, Walter, A History of Norfolk. London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, 1885. Print
  8. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  9. 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.
  10. 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)
  11. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  12. 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)
  13. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 9th December 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/canada
  14. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 21st June 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/david-malcolm
  15. South Australian Register Wednesday 5th January 1854. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) David Malcolm 1854. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/davidmalcolm1854.shtml
  16. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  17. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 7th November 2010). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  18. Wikisource contributors. "Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900." Wikisource . Wikisource , 4 Jun. 2018. Web. 7 August 2020
  19. HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html
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