Show ContentsHuntlow History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Huntlow Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Etymology of Huntlow

What does the name Huntlow mean?

The name Huntlow is of Anglo-Saxon origin and came from when the family lived in the settlement of Huntley in Gloucestershire. The surname Huntlow belongs to the large category of Anglo-Saxon habitation names, which are derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads. The name Huntlow was also given to people who dwelled by "the hunter's wood." 1

Early Origins of the Huntlow family

The surname Huntlow was first found in Monmouthshire where they claim descent from William Fitz-Baderon who held the barony of Monmouth including 22 lordships at the time of the Domesday Book of 1086. 2 3

Huntley is a parish, in the union of Westbury, duchy of Lancaster in Gloucestershire and a small hamlet in the parish and union of Cheadle, in the hundred of Totmonslow in Staffordshire. 4 The Gloucestershire parish dates back to the Domesday Book where it was listed as Huntelei. The parish and hamlet literally mean "huntsman's wood or clearing," having derived from the Old English "hunta" + "leah." 5

To the far north in Scotland, the family claim descent "from the ancient hamlet of Huntlie in Berwickshire, now extinct. Robert de Hunteleghe of the county of Roxberghe rendered homage [to King Edward I of England] in 1296. The name Huntly in Aberdeenshire was borrowed from Huntlie in Berwickshire, the old barony of Gordon, including Huntlie, being owned by the earls of Huntly down to 1638." 6

Today Huntly is a burgh of barony and a parish, in the district of Strathbogie, in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. "This place, including the united parishes of Dumbennan and Kinoir, anciently formed part of the ample possessions of the powerful family of the Cumyns, of whose baronial seat, Strathbogie Castle, there are still considerable remains. The castle was almost destroyed after the battle of Glenlivet, in 1594, but was restored, with considerable additions, by the first Marquess of Huntly, in 1602, and, under the name of Huntly Castle. The town, which derives its name from its founders, the family of Gordon. " 7

Early History of the Huntlow family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Huntlow research. Another 135 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1200 and 1296 are included under the topic Early Huntlow History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Huntlow Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Huntlow are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. Scribes and monks in the Middle Ages spelled names they sounded, so it is common to find several variations that refer to a single person. The variations of the name Huntlow include: Huntley, Huntly, Huntlie, Huntleigh and others.

Early Notables of the Huntlow family

More information is included under the topic Early Huntlow Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Huntlow family

Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Huntlow or a variant listed above: Edward Huntley settled in Virginia in 1651; John Huntley settled in Virginia in 1655; Margaret Huntley settled in Virginia in 1634; Hannah Huntly settled in Virginia in 1654.
  1. Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
  2. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  3. The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
  4. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  5. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  6. 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)
  7. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of Scotland. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.

Houseofnames.com on Facebook