Surname Hornsey - Meaning and Origin

Hornsey: What does the surname Hornsey mean?

Hornsey is a surname of English origin, derived from a geographical locality 'at the Hornsey', a district in Middlesex, North London. The name Hornsey is composed of two Old English words - 'horn', which can mean a corner or angle of land, and 'eg' or 'ey', meaning an island, ridge, or stretch of dry land in a fen, wetland, or marsh. Therefore, it may refer to a person who lived on a piece of dry or elevated land in a corner or angle (like where rivers meet). As a surname, it has undergone several variations including Hornsby, Hornesey, and Hornsbee over centuries. It's important to note that surnames often acquired dramatic alterations in spelling due to illiteracy, regional accents and the evolution of languages. Therefore, Hornsey could potentially refer to the same family lineage as those holding similar spelling variations. Some notable people with this surname include Australian Cricketer, John Hornsey and British Musician, Peter Hornsey. However, the distribution of this surname is quite small, with few people carrying it worldwide.

Hornsey: Where does the name Hornsey come from?

The surname Hornsey is of English origin and is believed to have geographical roots. It is derived from a place name, specifically the area of Hornsey in North London, England. The place name Hornsey itself is believed to have Old English elements, meaning 'Horn's island', with 'Horn' likely being a personal name and 'ey' meaning island or dry land in a marsh.

Today, the surname Hornsey is quite rare but is still found in the United Kingdom, particularly in England. Because of migration, it may also be found to a lesser extent in countries like Australia, Canada, and the United States. As with many other surnames, the distribution of Hornsey has been influenced by historical migration patterns and demographic changes. Over time, it has become less concentrated in specific regions and more dispersed globally. However, as per the frequency, it is not among the most common surnames.

Variations of the surname Hornsey

The surname Hornsey, of English origin, could be a locale-based surname from a place called Hornsey in Middlesex, which is now a part of Greater London. The 'Hornsey' name was first documented in 1202 as 'Hareneshie,' deriving from the Old English phrase 'Heringes-hege,' Hering being an ancient English individual name, and 'hege,' meaning enclosure or settlement.

Some surname variants or spellings could include Hornesy, Horney, or even Hornesay. Extended versions such as 'de Hornsey,' found in Middle Ages documents, could be a historical variant of the name. As the name Hornsey is rooted in a place name, any surname that shares a close relationship with a similar geographical area might also be considered a variant.

However, it is also crucial to understand that regional dialects, varying levels of literacy, and the evolution of language could have impacted the way the name was taken down in records, leading to different spelling variations. Therefore, while the Hornsey name isn't prevalent, it's hard to list a finite count of surname variants, as these can be quite numerous due to the reasons mentioned.

Famous people with the name Hornsey

• Tim Hornsey: is a former Australian rules football player currently trading in financial markets.
• Chris Hornsey: English Senior Competitions Manager at British Gymnastics.
• Leslie Hornsey: British National Track & Field Champion.
• Amanda Hornsey: British Olympic weightlifter.
• Damien Hornsey: Australian golfer and multiple gold medalist.
• Matt Hornsey: English cricketer.
• Ben Hornsey: English singer and songwriter.
• John Hornsey: British professional rugby league player.
• Alan Hornsey: British professional golfer.
• Terrance Hornsey: English professional football player.
• David Hornsey: English professional Football Manager.
• Katrina Hornsey: British water polo player.
• Josh Hornsey: Australian professional Football player.
• Chris Hornsey: English professional basketball player.
• Peter Hornsey: British professional photographer.
• Paul Hornsey: British professional bodybuilder and fitness instructor.
• Katie Hornsey: British professional swimmer and Olympic gold medalist.
• Gareth Hornsey: English professional Football player.
• David Hornsey: English professional Football player and coach.
• John Hornsey: British professional squash player.

Other surnames

HornsHornsbieHornsbyHornscheidtHornschuHornschuchHornschuckHornschuhHornsteinHornstrom