Henbury

Recorded as Henbury, Hinbury, Enbrey, Enbury, Ensby and Ensbury, this is an English locational surname. It almost certainly originates from any or all of the places called Henbury found in the counties of Cheshire, Dorset, and Gloucestershire. All probably have the meaning of the "high hill" or possibly "high fort" from the pre 7th century "hean burg". Henbury in Gloucester may well be the most famous and is certainly the most ancient being first recorded in the year 692 a.d, which is probably amongst the very earliest or possibly even THE earliest surviving written records of England. The meaning of high hill suggests that the various places may have had a pagan religious significance, or in later times could have been the places where watch towers were established to warn of Anglo-Saxon or Viking invasions. This was during the period of history known as The Dark Ages from the fall of the Roman Empire in circa 500 a.d. through to the Norman Invasion of 1066. The surname however is well after 1066, and its first recording date uncertain but possibly around 1250 a.d. A coat of arms was granted to a family called Henbury in circa 1700, the blazon being Argent, six conquefoils Sable, three two and one. Early church register recordings include John Henbury or Hinbury at St Mary Whitchurch, Stepney, on July 16th 1630 and William Enbury at St Giles Cripplegate on October 21st 1713, both in the city of London.