Surname Horrox - Meaning and Origin

Horrox: What does the surname Horrox mean?

The surname Horrox is of Anglo-Saxon origin and is thought to have derived from a personal name such as “Horace” or “Horus.” The name is believed to date back to the early Middle Ages and has various spellings, including Harracks, Harrocks, Horrock, and Harrox. It is found mainly across England and in Wales. It is likely that the name originated in the county of Lancashire, where it was found as early as the 1500s.

The meaning of the name is not definitively known, but it is thought to mean “descendant of Horace” or “descendant of Horus.” The name Horus means “horizon” or “light” in ancient Egyptian, so it could be interpreted to mean “one who ascends to the horizon” or “one who is enlightened.”

Given that the name emerged during the Middle Ages, it is possible that it originally belonged to a knight or a nobleman with a respected reputation. Over time, it has become a more common and widespread name, now having many branches across different countries. It is likely that the name was a source of pride and honor to its original owners, who it has stayed with throughout the centuries.

Horrox: Where does the name Horrox come from?

The last name Horrox is of English origin, tracing back to the Norman Conquest. Records dating back to 1260 show the family in the region of Worcestershire, located in the West Midlands.

Today, the surname Horrox remains a relatively uncommon name. According to the online genealogy service FoRoots, 30 percent of the Horrox surname holders still reside in the United Kingdom, mainly within the West Midlands region. The most common locations are Leamington, Stratford-upon-Avon, Norton-on-Trent, Kinver and Hagley.

Recent data from the United States Census Bureau reveals that the surname Horrox is much less common in America than in the United Kingdom. In fact, only 54 people in the United States are known to carry the surname Horrox. The most common states in which to find Horrox surname holders are Texas, California, Oregon and Florida.

Interestingly, the name has also been found in New Zealand and Australia. Research undertaken by the University of Canterbury suggests that there are likely many more Horrox surname holders in these countries than is presently known.

While the Horrox surname is not as common as some others, its legacy lives on and it continues to be an important part of British, American, Australian and New Zealand history.

Variations of the surname Horrox

The surname Horrox has variants, spellings, and related surnames that come from the same origin. Some of the many variants of the surname Horrox include Harrox, Harreek, Harrick, Harricks, Horrick, Harrock, and Horrocks. This surname is of Anglo-Saxon origin, and is derived from a location name with Old English origins. The name orginates from pre-medieval Old English "ha-roc," ham or village, and "mac," son of, and was originally a character name originating from a place name. Other Anglo-Saxon origins of the Horrox surname include Harick, Harrocks, and Horrocks, which come from a combination of the Old English "hæg," meaning hawthorn, and "roc," meaning a rock.

Harrak is another possible surname variant that is similar to the Horrox surname. This is an Arabic name, derived from the word "haraka," meaning "quick." This surname is likely to have been mistakenly transcribed as "Horrox," as the Arabic and English languages have similar sounds for certain letters.

Acommonly found spelling of this surname is Harrocks. This is likely a variation of the Middle English "harrok," which is a derivative of "harholt," meaning a woodland clearing.

There are also some Welsh variants of this surname with the same origin, including Arrick, Harreg, and Harregge. These are derived from the Welsh personal name "Aerwak," which also has a meaning of hawk or falcon.

Overall, the Horrox surname has several variants, spellings, and related surnames that come from the same origin. Many of these variants have their roots in Old English, Middle English, Arabic, and Welsh languages.

Famous people with the name Horrox

• Danielle Horrox: Australian actor best known for her role as Amber Mailey in Neighbours.
• Danniella Westbrook: British actress best known for her role as Sam Mitchell in EastEnders.
• Stephen Horrox: American actor best known for his role as Paul LaSerre in The Young and the Restless.
• Benjamin Horrox: English musician and composer.
• Abigail Horrox: British singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist.
• David Horrox: British child actor who made his television debut on the BBC drama EastEnders when he was seven years old.
• Larry Horrox: Canadian sculptor who has won numerous awards for his work in figurative sculpture.
• Jayne Horrox: British artist and illustrator known for her distinctive works depicting dark imagery.
• Bill Horrox: Australian politician who represented the Liberal Party in the Australian House of Representatives from 1963 to 1975.
• John Horrox: English historian and University Professor.
• Mark Horrox: American screenwriter, producer and director noted for his work on the feature films The Good Son and Lawless.
• Nick Horrox: English professional darts player who competes in Professional Darts Corporation events.

Other surnames

Horrocks