Show ContentsHorn History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Horn

What does the name Horn mean?

The Dutch surname Horn is a habitational name, taken on from any of numerous places in the Netherlands, so named. The Dutch word "hoorn," means a "point," or "‘nook;’ the prefix "Van" denotes "one who came from."

Early Origins of the Horn family

The surname Horn was first found in the region between the North Sea, Germany and Belgium, that we now call the Netherlands.

Early History of the Horn family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Horn research. Another 21 words (2 lines of text) covering the years 1136, 1150, 1156, 1518, 1568, 1635, 1653, 1683, 1704, 1709 and 1711 are included under the topic Early Horn History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Horn Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Horn, Hoorn, Van Horn, Van Hoorn, Van Horne, Van den Horn and many more.

Early Notables of the Horn family

From this era of Dutch history, those of this who distinguished themselves included

  • Herman van Horne (or Hoorn) (died 1156), Archdeacon at Liège in 1136, Bishop of Utrecht from 1150 to 1156

Horn World Ranking

In the United States, the name Horn is the 581st most popular surname with an estimated 49,740 people with that name. 1 However, in France, the name Horn is ranked the 9,212nd most popular surname with an estimated 500 - 1,000 people with that name. 2 And in South Africa, the name Horn is the 626th popular surname with an estimated 10,996 people with that name. 3


Horn migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Horn Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Christian Barentsen Van Horn, who settled in New York City in 1653
  • Jan Cornelissen Van Horn, who arrived in New Netherlands some time between 1620 and 1664
  • Edward and Winifred Horn, who settled in Maryland in 1664
  • Edward Horn, who arrived in Maryland in 1664 4
Horn Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Kasper Horn, who arrived in New York in 1709 4
  • Andreas Horn, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1732 4
  • Ulrich Horn, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1737 4
  • Joanis Horn, aged 24, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1741 4
  • Margretha Horn, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1743 4
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Horn Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Joh Horn, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1802 4
  • Thomas Horn, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1838 4
  • Gustave Horn, aged 28, who landed in Missouri in 1840 4
  • Johann Gottlieb Horn, aged 55, who landed in America in 1843 4
  • Frederick C Horn, who landed in St Clair County, Illinois in 1845 4
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Horn Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Albert Ernest Horn, who landed in Arkansas in 1906 4

Horn migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Horn Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Jacob Horn, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1751
Horn Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Mr. John Horn, aged 1 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Free Trader" departing 22nd June 1847 from Liverpool, England; the ship arrived on 14th August 1847 but he died on board 5
  • Mr. Michael Horn who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Free Trader" departing 22nd June 1847 from Liverpool, England; the ship arrived on 14th August 1847 but he died on board 5
  • Mr. Michael Horn, aged 5 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Free Trader" departing 22nd June 1847 from Liverpool, England; the ship arrived on 14th August 1847 but he died on board 5

Horn migration to Australia +

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

Horn Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Miss Harriett Ann Horn, (Holmes, Horne), (b. 1783), aged 29, English servant who was convicted in Essex, England for life for burglary, transported aboard the "Emu" in October 1812, the ship was captured and the passengers put ashore, the convicts were then transported aboard the "Broxburnebury" in January 1812 arriving in New South Wales, Australia 6
  • Mr. Thomas Horn, English convict who was convicted in Bedford, Bedfordshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Emperor Alexander"on 6th April 1833, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 7
  • Thomas Horn, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Orleana" in 1840 8
  • Mr. John Horn, English convict who was convicted in Northampton, Northamptonshire, England for life , transported aboard the "China" on 100th January 1846, arriving in Norfolk Island, Australia 9
  • Richard Horn, aged 22, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1851 aboard the ship "Omega" 10

Horn 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:

Horn Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • John Horn, aged 37, a bricklayer, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "London" in 1842
  • Harriet Horn, aged 32, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "London" in 1842
  • William John Horn, aged 10, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "London" in 1842
  • James P. Horn, aged 24, a carpenter, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Prince of Wales" in 1842
  • Sarah N. Horn, aged 19, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Prince of Wales" in 1842
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Horn migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 11
Horn Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century
  • Mr. Thomas Horn, (b. 1615), aged 20, British settler travelling aboard the ship "Expedition" arriving in Barbados in 1636 12

Contemporary Notables of the name Horn (post 1700) +

  • Roy Horn (1944-2020), born Uwe Ludwig Horn; German-born, American magician, one half of Siegfried & Roy; he died from COVID-19
  • Henry S. Horn (1941-2019), American natural historian and ecologist, emeritus professor in the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Department at Princeton University
  • Gilbert Horn Sr. (1924-2016), American Assiniboine soldier and code talker, member of Merrill's Marauders
  • Russell Van Horn, American bronze medalist for boxing at the 1904 Olympic games
  • Keith Adam Van Horn (b. 1975), American professional (NBA) basketball player
  • Welby Van Horn (b. 1920), American professional tennis player and coach
  • Robert Thompson Van Horn (1824-1916), American lawyer, newspaper publisher, Civil War officer, and politician, who was a mayor of Kansas City, Missouri
  • James Ronald Horn (b. 1940), American saxophonist and woodwind player 13
  • Alfred Horn (1918-2001), American mathematician, eponym of the term "Horn clause"
  • Burt Van Horn (1823-1896), American politician, U.S. Congressman from New York
  • ... (Another 35 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Bismarck
  • Herbert Horn (1902-1941), German Maschinenmaat who served aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he died in the sinking 14
  • Alfred Horn (1921-1941), German Matrosengefreiter who served aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he died in the sinking 14
  • Heinz Horn (1913-1941), German Obermaschinist who served aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he died in the sinking 14
Hillsborough disaster
  • Gordon Rodney Horn (1969-1989), English member of Liverpool's Marching band who was attending the FA Cup semi-final at Hillsborough Stadium, in Sheffield, Yorkshire when the stand allocated area became overcrowded and 96 people were crushed in what became known as the Hillsborough disaster and he died from his injuries 15
USS Arizona
  • Mr. James Randolf Van Horn, American Seaman Second Class from Arizona, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 16
  • Mr. Melvin Freeland Horn, American Fireman Third Class from Ohio, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 16


Suggested Readings for the name Horn +

  • Family History of Horn Ancestors & Descendants of Elisha Thomas Horn of Zion Hill, Mississippi by Horn History Book Committee.

  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
  3. "Most Common Last Names in South Africa." Forebears, https://forebears.io/south-africa/surnames
  4. 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)
  5. Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 80)
  6. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 3rd November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/Emu
  7. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 11th April 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/emperor-alexander
  8. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) ORLEANA 1840. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1840Orleana.htm
  9. Convict Records of Australia. Retrieved 5th February 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/china
  10. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) OMEGA 1851. Retrieved http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1851Omega.htm
  11. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
  12. Pilgrim Ship Lists Early 1600's retrieved 29th September 2021. Retrieved from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
  13. James Horn. (Retrieved 2010, September 27) James Horn. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Horn
  14. Bismarck & Tirpitz Class - Crew List Bismarck. (Retrieved 2018, February 06). Retrieved from https://www.bismarck-class.dk/bismarck/crew/bismarck_crew.html#crew_details
  15. Hillsborough Victims (retreived 21st March 2021). Retreived from https://metro.co.uk/2019/04/15/remembering-96-victims-hillsborough-disaster-30-years-9206566/
  16. Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html


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