Henchmen History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Etymology of Henchmen

What does the name Henchmen mean?

The origins of the Henchmen surname lie with the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. The name Henchmen began when someone in that family worked as a groom, squire, or page. The surname Henchmen is derived from the Old English words hengest, which means stallion, and mann, which means groom or servant. The latter word acquired its meaning of squire or page of honor in later times, in other words "an attendant upon a nobleman or personage of high distinction." 1

Early Origins of the Henchmen family

The surname Henchmen was first found in Northamptonshire near Seagrove, where they held a family seat from very early times.

Early History of the Henchmen family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Henchmen research. Another 50 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1592, 1669, 1675, 1684, 1691, 1694, 1702 and 1739 are included under the topic Early Henchmen History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Henchmen Spelling Variations

One relatively recent invention that did much to standardize English spelling was the printing press. However, before its invention even the most literate people recorded their names according to sound rather than spelling. The spelling variations under which the name Henchmen has appeared include Henchman, Hensman, Hinxman, Hinchman, Hincksman and many more.

Early Notables of the Henchmen family

Distinguished members of the family include Humphrey Henchman (1592-1675), who was Bishop of Salisbury and later of London. He was "the third son of Thomas Henchman, skinner, of the city of London, by his wife Anne Griffiths, daughter of Robert Griffiths of Carnarvon, was born at Barton Seagrove, Northamptonshire, in the house of Owen Owens, the rector of the parish, whose wife...
Another 61 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Henchmen Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Henchmen family

At this time, the shores of the New World beckoned many English families that felt that the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. Thousands left England at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. A great portion of these settlers never survived the journey and even a greater number arrived sick, starving, and without a penny. The survivors, however, were often greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. These English settlers made significant contributions to those colonies that would eventually become the United States and Canada. An examination of early immigration records and passenger ship lists revealed that people bearing the name Henchmen arrived in North America very early: Daniel Henchman, who sailed to Boston, Massachusetts in 1635; Richard Hensman, who came to Barbados in 1664; Anne Hinxman who came to Maryland in 1677.