Surname Horbank - Meaning and Origin
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Horbank: What does the surname Horbank mean?
The surname Horbank is derived from the Old English words 'horn' and 'banc'. The meaning of this surname is 'the hill where horns are played'. The name might have originally been an occupational name for someone who played the horn for musical entertainment. Generally, surnames that end in 'bank' indicate the family's topographical origin, meaning the Horbank family likely came from a place of hills or ridges.
The first recorded spelling of the family name Horbank was found in the 11th century, in the Domesday Book of 1086. The name is mentioned as “Hornbanc”, located in the parish of Bacton near Honiton in Devon. It is believed the family were originally Norman or French in origin, however, the name is now widespread in most parts of the world, including Europe, India, China and North America.
Famous people with the surname Horbank include Sir Richard Horbank, a British diplomat; James Horbank, an 18th century East India Company hoist and engineer; and John Horbank, an English language professor.
The Horbank surname is thought to have been developed after the Middle Ages and still remains prevalent and popular today.
Order DNA origin analysisHorbank: Where does the name Horbank come from?
The last name Horbank is most common in the United States, particularly in the Midwest and the South. It is a relatively uncommon name in the rest of the world, though those bearing the name can be found in Canada, the United Kingdom, and Norway.
The majority of people with the last name Horbank living in the United States are descended from German ancestors that immigrated to America in the mid-19th century. Records from the 1840's list a Johannes Horbank, born in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, as one of the earliest immigrants to the United States with that name.
Other areas of the country, particularly the South, were populated later by Horbanks of British descent. It is likely that these immigrants came to the US during the colonial period as indentured servants or in the early 1800s as part of the forced relocation of Native Americans. In the 20th century, a small number of members of the faith of Spiritualism, practiced in England in the late 1800s, also immigrated to the US bearing the last name Horbank.
Today, the Horbank name is occasionally found in small communities throughout the United States. Most bearers of the name live in the Midwest, including Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Illinois, and in more populous states such as New York and California. Additionally, members of the Horbank family can be found in other parts of the world, including Canada, the United Kingdom, and Norway.
Variations of the surname Horbank
The surname Horbank has several variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. These include Hurbank, Hurbanke, Hurbanck, Harbank, Harbanck and Harbanke. The traditional spelling of the surname is Horbank, which originates from early records of the British Isles. The earliest use of the name recorded is of a John Hurbank, noted in 1296 as a witness in a document regarding a property dispute.
The variants and spellings of this name can be found as early as the mid 1500s. During this period, it was common for names to evolve as they were written or spoken by different individuals. As a result, the same name could be recorded in various forms. For that reason, the spellings Harbank, Harbanck and Harbanke might all be considered derived from the original form of Horbank.
In regards to surnames of the same origin, one example is Harbord. This particular name is believed to have originated in the 15th century, and is derived from a similar spelling of the first name Herbert. The meaning of the surname Harbord is “dark-skinned” or “the habitation of Herbert.”
Other cognates to Horbank include Herbanck, Herbanke, Harmiyanck and Horwingen. Cognate names are related even if their spellings are slightly different. Each of these names likely originates from the original form of Horbank, although the exact connection is unknown.
Overall, Horbank is a classic surname with many variants, spellings and other surnames of the same origin. Its use dates back centuries, and suggests a connection to names such as Harbord, Harper and Herbert. Despite the various spellings, the same origin of the name is still visible.
Famous people with the name Horbank
- Henry Horbank: a British actor, playing roles in films such as Blackadder and The Ruling Class.
- Rachel Horbank: a British actress, known for roles in EastEnders and Holby City.
- Alex Horbank: a Hollywood actor, best known for his roles in TV shows such as Supergirl and Arrow.
- David Horbank: an American entrepreneur, best known for his work with Uber Technologies.
- Edward Horbank: a British composer, having composed and produced for the TV show Doctor Who.
- Kate Horbank: an illustrator and creator of comics, most notably the comic Cannibals.
- Clara Horbank: a prominent Australian lawyer, who has represented individuals from various backgrounds in court cases.
- Christopher Horbank: an author and science fiction writer, whose works include Dreamland and Obsidian.
- Rachelle Horbank: an American model, working for brands such as Abercrombie & Fitch and Victoria's Secret.
- Sebastian Horbank: a British artist, known for his abstract paintings and sculptures.