Surname Henright - Meaning and Origin
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Henright: What does the surname Henright mean?
The last name Henright can primarily be found in the United Kingdom and Ireland. It is believed to be derived from the Old English given name “Heah” alongside the Saxon word “reht” meaning “right” or “straight”. As a whole, the surname is a variation of “Heahriht”, meaning “right hand” or “one on the right”. It is also thought to date back to the Norman Conquest of 1066, when William the Conqueror gave lands and titles to his loyal Norman followers with the name “Heahriht”.
The Henright surname would have most likely been used to signify a place in honourable standing, suggesting that its name origin was derived from a person who held a respectable reputation or was known to be loyal. Early english records show the name Henright appearing in many ancient forms including: Heywright, Hawright, Heighright, Heyrerht, Hairerght, Heireight, Hayright and Heyeright.
The name has many distinguished associations, and is said to have ventured into Scotland and the United States. Today, the Henright name is not distributed widely across the UK and remains a unique and distinctive identifier.
Order DNA origin analysisHenright: Where does the name Henright come from?
The surname Henright is most strongly associated with Ireland, due to its Irish roots. It is of Anglo-Saxon origin and is believed to have come to Ireland in the mid to late 1700s, likely from England or Wales. Today, the surname Henright is still quite common throughout Ireland, as well as in the United States. While it is much less common in other English-speaking countries, it can still be found in the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, among other places.
In Ireland, records of the surname Henright date back to the mid-1800s when it was used to describe a family of farmers, shepherds, and laborers in County Mayo. In the United States, the earliest recorded use of the surname dates back to the 1890s when a Priest called Father Christoph Henright immigrated from Ireland and worked as a missionary in the Midwestern region. The timelessness of the Irish Henright family also means that the surname can be found throughout Europe, from France and Germany to the Netherlands.
The most populated areas in the United States that find the surname most commonly are the New York-New Jersey region, parts of Pennsylvania, and the Midwest, especially Wisconsin, where the name has been well-established since Father Henright’s late 19th century arrival. On a global scale, the surname Henright is most often found in Ireland, the United Kingdom, and the United States, but is still rather uncommon in Western Europe.
Variations of the surname Henright
The surname Henright has a few variants, spellings, and surnames of similar origins. Common spelling variations for Henright include Henright, Henwright, Henrite, Henrite, Henret, Henreght, Henrighter, and Henryte. Other surnames with a similar origin include Hennywright, Henywright, and Henreyte.
Henright likely originated as a nickname for a courageous and headstrong individual, derived from the Middle English phrase "honere-wryght" which translates to "honorable knight". It may also have been derived from the Old French phrase "hensire" which means "a captain of men". In some cases, Henright was thought to originate as an occupational surname, likely used by a horse wright or saddler, a person who made and repaired horse saddles.
Henright has a particularly strong presence in areas in the county of Yorkshire, UK, where it has been present since the fourteenth century. It is also common in Ireland, first introduced to the country in the sixteenth century. It is particularly attested in the area of Wexford.
In America, the surname was first introduced in 1729 when Thomas Henright arrived in the new world on the ship Lyon. Henright families are known throughout the United States today.
The surname has seen a series of spelling variations throughout its history, the most common being Henright. Regardless of spelling, the name bears a strong sense of determination, courage, and strength.
Famous people with the name Henright
- Duncan Henright: Duncan is an English singer, songwriter, and composer who has collaborated with many famous artists, including Sting, Peter Gabriel, the Pretenders, and Duran Duran.
- Timothy Henright: Timothy is a retired English professional footballer who played as a forward for clubs such as Aston Villa, Fulham, and Birmingham City.
- Emma Henright: Emma is an English actress who had her breakout role in the popular BBC miniseries Sherlock. She has since had a successful career in film and television.
- Owen Henright: Owen is a professional British swimmer who has competed in multiple Olympic Games and is the current record holder for the 50 meter butterfly stroke.
- David Henright: David is a renowned English landscape artist who has exhibited widely in both Europe and the United States and whose work is held in numerous public and private collections.
- Julian Henright: Julian is a British musician and record producer best known for producing albums for The Vamps and Little Mix.
- Leslie Henright: Leslie is an English author and illustrator of children's books. She is best known for her books about fantasy worlds and magical creatures. 8.Elizabeth Henright: Elizabeth is a British film director whose work has been nominated for various awards including multiple BAFTAs. She is best known for directing the miniseries King Charles III.
- John Henright: John is an English actor best known for his roles in the films Waking Ned and The Abduction of Zack Butterfield.
- Claire Henright: Claire is a British actor and radio presenter who is most renowned for her role as Emily in the BBC TV series The Office.