Huntingdon History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Etymology of Huntingdon

What does the name Huntingdon mean?

The Anglo-Saxon name Huntingdon comes from the family having resided in the settlement of Huntingdon in the county of Huntingdonshire, or in one of the various places called Huntington in Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, and the North Riding of Yorkshire.

Early Origins of the Huntingdon family

The surname Huntingdon was first found in Huntingdon in Huntingdonshire. "This place, called by the Saxons Huntantun, and in the Norman survey Huntersdune, appears to have derived its name from its situation in a tract of country which was anciently an extensive forest abounding with deer, and well suited for the purposes of the chase. A castle was built here in 917 by Edward the Elder, and enlarged by David, Earl of Huntingdon and King of Scotland." 1

The source Old English Bynames, includes Eustace de Huntedune, de Huntendone who was registered in the Domesday Book of 1086. 2 Years later, Humphrey de Huntendun was registered in Bedfordshire in 1202, as was William de Huntinton in the Subsidy Rolls for Worcestershire c. 1280. In Lancashire, Robert Huntyngdon was listed there in the Assize Rolls of 1375. 3

Gregory of Huntingdon (fl. 1290), was an early English monk of Ramsey, of which abbey he is said to have been prior for thirty-eight years, is described as a man of much learning, acquainted with Latin, Greek, and Hebrew. 4

Henry of Huntingdon (1084?-1155), was an early historian, born between 1080 and 1085, the son of Nicholas, a churchman, whom he styles 'stella cleri,' and who may possibly have been the archdeacon of Huntingdon who had died in 1110. 4

By the time of the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, the name was widespread: Adam de Huntindon, London; Alan de Huntingdon, Lincolnshire; Robert de Huntingdon, Huntingdonshire; and Agnes de Huntingdone, Cambridgeshire. 5

In Yorkshire, Peter Wodfoghel de Huntington, was listed as Freeman of York (1313-1320) and the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 included: Johannes de Huntyngton; and Thomas de Huntyngton as both holding lands there at that time. 5

Early History of the Huntingdon family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Huntingdon research. Another 93 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1553, 1637, 1683 and 1701 are included under the topic Early Huntingdon History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Huntingdon Spelling Variations

Huntingdon has been spelled many different ways. Before English spelling became standardized over the last few hundred years, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. As the English language changed in the Middle Ages, absorbing pieces of Latin and French, as well as other languages, the spelling of people's names also changed considerably, even over a single lifetime. Spelling variants included: Huntington, Huntingdon and others.

Early Notables of the Huntingdon family

Notables of this surname at this time include: John Huntinton (fl. 1553), English poet and preacher who was apparently educated at Oxford, where he became 'noted among his contemporaries for a tolerable poet.' 4Reverend...
Another 33 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Huntingdon Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Huntingdon migration to the United States +

In an attempt to escape the chaos experienced in England, many English families boarded overcrowded and diseased ships sailing for the shores of North America and other British colonies. Those families hardy enough, and lucky enough, to make the passage intact were rewarded with land and a social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families became important contributors to the young colonies in which they settled. Early immigration and passenger lists have documented some of the first Huntingdons to arrive on North American shores:

Huntingdon Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Z W Huntingdon, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1850 6

Huntingdon migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Huntingdon Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Geogre P Huntingdon, who arrived in Canada in 1831

Citations +

Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
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)