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Horncastle Family History

Horncastle Surname Meaning

From Horncastle in Hemsworth (WR Yorks), which is recorded as Hornecastle in the 13th century. The place-name derives from Old English horn ‘horn’ probably in the sense ‘horn-like projection on a building gable end pinnacle’ + castel ‘castle camp’. The surname expanded in S Yorks and probably accounts for the post-medieval surname in north Notts. Medieval bearers in Nottingham however have been allocated to (2).

From Horncastle (Lincs), which is recorded as Hornecastre in 1086 and Horncastell about 1360. The place-name derives from Old English horn ‘horn-shaped piece of land river bend’ + cæster ‘city Roman fortification’. This is probably the source of the surname at various times in Lincs, ER Yorks, Norfolk, the Midlands, and the London area.

Source: The Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain and Ireland, 2016


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Where is the Horncastle family from?

You can see how Horncastle families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Horncastle family name was found in the USA, the UK, and Canada between 1840 and 1920. The most Horncastle families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 88 Horncastle families living in Yorkshire. This was about 58% of all the recorded Horncastle's in United Kingdom. Yorkshire had the highest population of Horncastle families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Horncastle surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Horncastle ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Cattle Dealer Store and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Horncastle. 25% of Horncastle men worked as a Cattle Dealer Store and 86% of Horncastle women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Horncastle were General Labourer and Draper general Dealer.

View Census Data for Horncastle | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • Cattle Dealer Store
    25%
  • Woollen Spinner
    25%
  • Railway Clerk
    25%
  • General Labourer
    25%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    86%
  • Private Means
    6%
  • Unpaid Household Duties
    4%
  • Draper general Dealer
    3%

What Horncastle family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 6,000 census records available for the last name Horncastle. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Horncastle census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Horncastle

Passenger Lists

There are 422 immigration records available for the last name Horncastle. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Horncastle immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 334 military records available for the last name Horncastle. For the veterans among your Horncastle ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Horncastle military records

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What is the average Horncastle lifespan?

Between 1969 and 2004, in the United States, Horncastle life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1969, and highest in 2004. The average life expectancy for Horncastle in 1969 was 58, and 94 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Horncastle

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Horncastle ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

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