Show ContentsHonywood History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Honywood family

The surname Honywood was first found in Kent at "Henewood, near Postling where the ancestors of this family resided as early as the reign of Henry III." 1 The family name was first referenced in the 12th century when they held a family seat at Honywood, Elmsted, and Lenham.

Early History of the Honywood family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Honywood research. Another 182 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1106, 1455, 1487, 1510, 1527, 1543, 1548, 1586, 1597, 1600, 1601, 1604, 1619, 1620, 1625, 1632, 1654, 1656, 1659, 1666, 1677, 1681, 1686, 1743 and 1752 are included under the topic Early Honywood History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Honywood 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 Honywood 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 Honywood include: Honeywood, Honiwood, Huniwood, Honywood, Hunywood and many more.

Early Notables of the Honywood family

Distinguished members of the family include

  • Mary Honywood (1527-1620), daughter and coheiress of Robert Waters, Esquire, of Lenham, Kent, was born at that place in 1527. "In 1543, being then in her sixteenth year, she married Robert Honywood, E...
  • Sir Robert Honeywood (c. 1601-1686), was an English politician from Charing, Kent, Member of Parliament for New Romney in 1659; and Sir Philip Honywood (c.1677-1752), army officer
  • Michael Honywood (1597-1681), was Dean of Lincoln, born in 1597, the sixth son and ninth child of Robert Honywood, Esquire, of Charing, Kent, and of Marks Hall, Essex, by his second wife, Elizabeth, d...


Honywood migration to the United States +

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 Honywood or a variant listed above:

Honywood Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • John Honywood, who arrived in America in 1638-1639
  • Philip Honywood, who settled in Virginia in 1649
  • Hen Honywood, who settled in Virginia in 1670
  • Wel Honywood, who arrived in Virginia in 1675
  • Pompey Honywood, who arrived in Virginia in 1688

Contemporary Notables of the name Honywood (post 1700) +

  • Samuel Honywood (b. 1996), English child actor
  • Sir John Honywood (d. 1806), English peer, 4th Baronet


The Honywood 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: Omne bonum desuper
Motto Translation: Every good is from above.


  1. Shirley, Evelyn Philip, The Noble and Gentle Men of England; The Arms and Descents. Westminster: John Bower Nichols and Sons, 1866, Print.


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