Show ContentsHunterhan History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Anglo-Saxon name Hunterhan comes from when its first bearer worked as a hunter. The surname Hunterhan is a compound of the Old English word hunta, which means huntsman, or the Old English word hunte, which means the act of hunting, and the word mann, which is used either in the sense of hunter, or servant of the hunter. 1

Early Origins of the Hunterhan family

The surname Hunterhan was first found in Suffolk, where one of first listings of the family was John Hunteman who was listed there in the Feet of Fines of 1219. Later, John Hunteman or Huntesman was registered in 1347 and 1348, again in Suffolk. 2

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 included Walter Hunteman, Cambridgeshire, and later the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls listed Simon Huntman. 3

Early History of the Hunterhan family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hunterhan research. Another 73 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1273, 1379, 1565, 1650, 1704 and 1776 are included under the topic Early Hunterhan History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hunterhan Spelling Variations

Until quite recently, the English language has lacked a definite system of spelling rules. Consequently, Anglo-Saxon surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. Changes in Anglo-Saxon names were influenced by the evolution of the English language, as it incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other languages. Although Medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, so it is common to find one person referred to by several different spellings of his surname, even the most literate people varied the spelling of their own names. Variations of the name Hunterhan include Huntman, Hunteman, Huntsman, Hunterman and others.

Early Notables of the Hunterhan family

Distinguished members of the family include Benjamin Huntsman, (1704-1776), English inventor of cast steel, born of German parentage in Lincolnshire in 1704. He became a skilful mechanic, and eventually started in business as a clockmaker in Doncaster. He also made and repaired locks, jacks, and...
Another 44 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Hunterhan Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Hunterhan family

Searching for a better life, many English families migrated to British colonies. Unfortunately, the majority of them traveled under extremely harsh conditions: overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the ocean. For those families that arrived safely, modest prosperity was attainable, and many went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the new colonies. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Hunterhan or a variant listed above: William Huntsman settled in New Castle, Delaware in 1852.



The Hunterhan 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: Esto vigilans
Motto Translation: Be vigilant.


  1. Arthur, William , An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. London: 1857. Print
  2. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  3. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)


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