The Horne Family History

What Does the Horne Surname Mean? Historical Origins Explained

The surname Horne, found in both England and Scotland, derives from the Middle English term 'horn,' which signifies a person who plays a horn. Variations in the spelling of Horne include Horn, Hiorn, Athorn, and Athorne. The origins of the Horne surname in England can be traced back to Durham, from where it gradually disseminated throughout much of England and into the eastern regions of Wales. Significant populations of Horne families are notably concentrated in Yorkshire, Staffordshire, Lancashire, Norfolk, Kent, the city of London, Hampshire, and Somerset. In Scotland, the Horne surname is prevalent across a majority of the country, with the largest concentrations found in Aberdeenshire, Angus, Perthshire, Fife, Midlothian, Lanarkshire, and Renfrewshire. In the United States, the Horne family name first emerged in states such as New York, Maine, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and New Jersey. Prominent individuals bearing the Horne surname include Richard Henry Horne, an English author and poet; Lena Calhoun Horne, a celebrated jazz singer and actress; Barry Horne, a Welsh footballer; Keith Horne, a professional golfer from South Africa; Marilyn Horne, a renowned opera singer; Kenneth Horne, an English comic; and Des Horne, another English footballer.