Surname Hanbury - Meaning and Origin
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Hanbury: What does the surname Hanbury mean?
The last name Hanbury originates from an English region that used to be called “Hanebyri”. The name itself is believed to originate from the Old English words “hana”, meaning “home” and “bere” meaning “barley”, suggesting that those who carried the name were likely originally farmers.
The name is commonly found in Shropshire, England and is believed to be one of the earliest English surnames. It is thought to have been adopted as far back as the 12th century, and is mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086. The name could also be derived from the Old Norse “höfn” meaning “homestead” and “burr” meaning “hill”, suggesting that its bearers were likely once inhabitants of a small settlement.
The first known record of the name is from 1273, in the Wiltshire Subsidy Roll. Later records of the name in England appear in the 17th century, when Thomas Henbury and his family arrived from Devon to settle in London.
Today, the name Hanbury is carried by a large number of people scattered across the globe. It is especially common in North America, Australia, and New Zealand. While a lot of Hanburys have kept to their agricultural heritage, others have branched out into other professions like law, medicine, and the military. Despite its widespread use, the name has managed to keep its distinctiveness and unique charm, making it a beautiful name for families who want to honor their English heritage.
Order DNA origin analysisHanbury: Where does the name Hanbury come from?
The last name Hanbury is most common in the United Kingdom, particularly in England. It is also found in parts of Ireland and Scotland. The 2016 research from Forebears, a genealogy website, indicates that most of the Hanbury family name originated in the UK, with approximately two thousand households between England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland sharing the name.
In the 1891 United Kingdom census, the Hanbury last name had nearly seven hundred listed in England. By 2001 this number had grown to roughly nine hundred, reflecting a migration of the name spread around the country in the late 19th and early 20th century.
In terms of today, the biggest area of Hanburys is found in the London boroughs of Hackney, Tower Hamlets and Islington, with Islington having approximately two hundred households with the name shared. The cities of Birmingham, Cardiff and Bristol also have a decent number of households.
Outside of the UK, there is a decent number of Hanburys in the United States and Canada, mostly reflecting people who have immigrated from the UK in the past century. A few have also gone on to settle in Australia, New Zealand and other parts of the world.
Variations of the surname Hanbury
The surname Hanbury is of English origins from a place name derived from the hamlet of Hanbury which is located in the parish of Droitwich in Worcestershire, England. The place name is composed of the Old English elements “hana” meaning ‘cock’ and “burg” meaning ‘fortified settlement.’
The surname Hanbury has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin including: Hanbure, Hanbere, Hanbereye, Hanbery, Hanberygh, Hanburie, Hambery, Hanbur, Haneber, Hanebery, Hanbery, Hanberygh, Hanery, Hanbere, Hanbereye, Hanbery, Hanbry, and Hanbrygh.
Additionally, surnames with similar spelling and origins to Hanbury include Hambury, Hanry, Hempry, Henkery, Henbury, Henbrey, Hambery, Hamprey, Handbery, Hamesbrey, and Henbery.
Since its origin in England, the surname Hanbury has spread across the world to various locations including the United States, Canada, Scotland, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and other English-speaking countries.
Famous people with the name Hanbury
- Liz Hanbury: British philanthropist, former deputy leader of Northumberland County Council and former Mayor of Hexham
- Bryan Hanbury: England cricketer who represented Surrey and Leicestershire from 1971 to 1983
- Robin Hanbury-Tenison: British explorer, writer and a founding member of Survival International
- Robert Hanbury Brown: British astronomer and astrophysicist
- Frank Hanbury: former President of the Football Association
- Shaun Hanbury: Australian actor
- John Hanbury: 19th century English cricketer
- Walter Hanbury: English entomologist
- David Hanbury: World War II veteran and British diplomat
- Edward Hanbury: 19th century English entomologist