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Hounsell History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Citations

Hounsell History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Hounsell is a name that first reached England following the Norman Conquest of 1066. It comes from the Germanic personal name Ansell composed of the elements ans, which means god, and helm, which means protection or helmet. 1

Early Origins of the Hounsell family

The surname Hounsell was first found in the English county of Kent where they were granted lands shortly after the Norman Conquest by King William the Conqueror in 1066 A.D. The family is believed to be descended from Pierre Anselm, Archbishop of Canterbury, Ansell being the abbreviation adopted by most branches of this noble Norman family who accompanied the Conqueror into England.

Saint Anselm of Aosta (c. 1033-1109), was a theologian, Abbot of Bec, and Archbishop of Canterbury. He was "born at or near Aosta about the year 1033, or two years before the death of Cnut, king of England, and two years before William the Conqueror became duke of Normandy. William the Conqueror received his death-wound in 1087. In the presence of Anselm we are told that he who to most men seemed harsh and terrible became so mild that bystanders looked on with amazement. " 2

Early History of the Hounsell family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hounsell research. Another 91 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1086, 1660, 1689 and 1929 are included under the topic Early Hounsell History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hounsell Spelling Variations

Before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Sound was what guided spelling in the Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Hounsell family name include Ansell, Ancell, Ancelle, Anselm, Anselme, Anstrell and many more.

Early Notables of the Hounsell family

Another 34 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Hounsell Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hounsell Ranking

In Newfoundland, Canada, the name Hounsell is the 435^th most popular surname with an estimated 107 people with that name. 3

Hounsell migration to the United States +

To escape the political and religious chaos of this era, thousands of English families began to migrate to the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. The passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe; however, those who made the voyage safely were encountered opportunities that were not available to them in their homeland. Many of the families that reached the New World at this time went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations of the United States and Canada. Research into various historical records has revealed some of first members of the Hounsell family to immigrate North America:

Hounsell Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Roy E S Hounsell, aged 18, who landed in America from London, England, in 1912
Thomas Hounsell, aged 33, who landed in America from Portland, England, in 1913
William Hounsell, aged 19, who immigrated to the United States from Swansea, Wales, in 1914
Joy A. Hounsell, aged 23, who immigrated to the United States from London, England, in 1916
Edith Hounsell, aged 47, who landed in America from Binstead, England, in 1919
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Hounsell migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Hounsell Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century

Isabelle Hounsell, aged 28, who immigrated to Victoria, Canada, in 1912
Reginald Hounsell, aged 2, who immigrated to Victoria, Canada, in 1912
Robert Albert Hounsell, aged 27, who settled in Montreal, Canada, in 1913
Albert Hounsell, aged 26, who settled in Wesleyville, Newfoundland in 1923
George Hounsell, aged 32, who immigrated to Wesleyville, Newfoundland in 1923
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Hounsell migration to Australia +

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

Hounsell Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Edmund Hounsell who was convicted in Dorset, England for life, transported aboard the "Circassian" on 4th November 1832, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 4
Mary M. Hounsell, aged 21, a farm servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1850 aboard the ship "Joseph Soames" 5

Hounsell 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:

Hounsell Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Robert Hounsell, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Woodlark" in 1873

Contemporary Notables of the name Hounsell (post 1700) +

William Hounsell (1820-1903), English cricketer who represented Hampshire in two first-class matches against the All-England Eleven in 1849 and 1850
Barbara Hounsell (b. 1951), Canadian swimmer at the 1964 Summer Olympics
Alan Hounsell (b. 1947), New Zealand former cricketer who played first-class and List A cricket for Auckland, Canterbury, Northern Districts and Wellington between 1968 and 1977
Patrick Hounsell (b. 1958), New Zealand former cricketer who played four first-class matches for Auckland between 1987 and 1989
Colin Hounsell (b. 1955), former Australian rules footballer who played with the South Melbourne/Sydney Football Club in the Victorian Football League from 1975 to 1985

Historic Events for the Hounsell family +

RMS Lusitania

Mr. Edgar Cyril Hounsell, English 2nd Class passenger from England, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and survived the sinking 6

Citations +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
Convict Records of Australia. Retrieved 8th February 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/circassian
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) JOSEPH SOMES / SOAMES 1850. Retrieved http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1850JosephSomes.htm
Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 6) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/