Huntlee History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Scotland

Etymology of Huntlee

What does the name Huntlee mean?

The origins of the Huntlee name lie with England's ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. It comes from when the family lived in the settlement of Huntley in Gloucestershire. The surname Huntlee belongs to the large category of Anglo-Saxon habitation names, which are derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads. The name Huntlee was also given to people who dwelled by "the hunter's wood." 1

Early Origins of the Huntlee family

The surname Huntlee was first found in Monmouthshire where they claim descent from William Fitz-Baderon who held the barony of Monmouth including 22 lordships at the time of the Domesday Book of 1086. 2 3

Huntley is a parish, in the union of Westbury, duchy of Lancaster in Gloucestershire and a small hamlet in the parish and union of Cheadle, in the hundred of Totmonslow in Staffordshire. 4 The Gloucestershire parish dates back to the Domesday Book where it was listed as Huntelei. The parish and hamlet literally mean "huntsman's wood or clearing," having derived from the Old English "hunta" + "leah." 5

To the far north in Scotland, the family claim descent "from the ancient hamlet of Huntlie in Berwickshire, now extinct. Robert de Hunteleghe of the county of Roxberghe rendered homage [to King Edward I of England] in 1296. The name Huntly in Aberdeenshire was borrowed from Huntlie in Berwickshire, the old barony of Gordon, including Huntlie, being owned by the earls of Huntly down to 1638." 6

Today Huntly is a burgh of barony and a parish, in the district of Strathbogie, in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. "This place, including the united parishes of Dumbennan and Kinoir, anciently formed part of the ample possessions of the powerful family of the Cumyns, of whose baronial seat, Strathbogie Castle, there are still considerable remains. The castle was almost destroyed after the battle of Glenlivet, in 1594, but was restored, with considerable additions, by the first Marquess of Huntly, in 1602, and, under the name of Huntly Castle. The town, which derives its name from its founders, the family of Gordon. " 7

Early History of the Huntlee family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Huntlee research. Another 135 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1200 and 1296 are included under the topic Early Huntlee History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Huntlee Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years, the English language had no fast system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations are commonly found in early Anglo-Saxon surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Huntlee were recorded, including Huntley, Huntly, Huntlie, Huntleigh and others.

Early Notables of the Huntlee family

More information is included under the topic Early Huntlee Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Huntlee family

To escape oppression and starvation at that time, many English families left for the "open frontiers" of the New World with all its perceived opportunities. In droves people migrated to the many British colonies, those in North America in particular, paying high rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Although many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, those who did see the shores of North America perceived great opportunities before them. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Research into various historical records revealed some of first members of the Huntlee family emigrate to North America: Edward Huntley settled in Virginia in 1651; John Huntley settled in Virginia in 1655; Margaret Huntley settled in Virginia in 1634; Hannah Huntly settled in Virginia in 1654.

Sources +

Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of Scotland. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.