Hambirk History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The Anglo-Saxon name Hambirk comes from when the family resided in the parish of Hanbury in the county of Oxford. 
Henry de Hambury (fl. 1330), was an early English judge, the a son of Geoffrey de Hambury of Hambury or Hanbury in Worcestershire. 
Early Origins of the Hambirk family
The surname Hambirk was first found in Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire, where evidence suggests they held a family seat before the Norman Conquest. Hambrook is a village and hamlet in the parish of Winterbourne, South Gloucestershire. Whereras, Handbrough is a parish, in the union of Witney, hundred of Wootton in the county of Oxford. Both villages have remained small through the ages. Hambrook had about 600 inhabitants and Handbrough (Hanborough) had about 1,000 inhabitants as of a census in the late 1800s. The latter villages dates back to at least the Domesday Book where it was listed as Haneberge  and literally meant "hill of a man called Hagena or Hana" derived from the Old English personal name + beorg. Hambrook also dates back to the Domesday Book where it was listed as Hanbroc.  In this case, the village literally meant "brook by the stone" from the Old English han + broc. 
Early History of the Hambirk family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hambirk research. Another 153 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1086, 1086, 1273, 1273 and 1330 are included under the topic Early Hambirk History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Hambirk Spelling Variations
Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, French and other languages became incorporated into English through the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Hambirk include Hambro, Hambrow, Hambury, Hamborough, Hamboro and others.
Early Notables of the Hambirk family (pre 1700)
Another 43 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Hambirk Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Hambirk family to Ireland
Some of the Hambirk family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Hambirk family
A great wave of immigration to the New World was the result of the enormous political and religious disarray that struck England at that time. Families left for the New World in extremely large numbers. The long journey was the end of many immigrants and many more arrived sick and starving. Still, those who made it were rewarded with an opportunity far greater than they had known at home in England. These emigrant families went on to make significant contributions to these emerging colonies in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers carried this name or one of its variants: Daniel Hanbury who sailed to Massachusetts in 1635; Peter Hanbury to Virginia in 1639; Peter Hambro, to Philadelphia, Pa. in 1750; Benjamin Hambury to Virginia in 1774.
Related Stories +
The Hambirk 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: Honestum utili praefero
Motto Translation: I prefer honesty to profit.
- ^ Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
- ^ Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
- ^ Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
- ^ Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)