Guild of One-Name Studies
One-name studies, Genealogy
Study: Horswill   
Variants: Horsewell, Horsewill, Horswell
Category: 3 - A study where research using core genealogical datasets and transcriptions is well under way on a global basis.
Contact: Ms Margaret Phillips
My interest in Horswill Family History started in the mid 1980's. Horswill was my maiden name and, initially, I was only interested in my immediate family and had always assumed that we originated from Chester, although family rumour said that great grandfather had once worked in London.
After some investigation I was amazed to find that my great grandfather Charles Horswill, a tailor, was born in Devon and came to Chester after a short stay in London. I was intrigued as to why he came to Chester but even after all this time that still remains a mystery.
Trying to find further relatives, I started gathering all references to Horswill and related surnames in the Devon area and this quickly evolved into a One Name Study which I registered with the guild in 1988.
If you have found your way to this page then I assume you are interested in the Horswell or Horswill group of surnames. If you have any connection, however remote, with these surnames by birth or marriage then I would be very pleased to hear from you. Similarly, any information you might have about Horswell or Horswill family history will be gratefully received and should you need help with your Horswill Family Tree I will be more than happy to help. Please contact me via my email address below but do please try to be as specific as possible with questions. As I have a huge amount of data about these families it will help me with identifying individuals.
The first mention of the Horswell surname that I can find is in 1314 when William Horswill and John Horswyll were witnesses to land deeds at Brixton in Devon.
Many years later one JOHN HORSWELL became mayor of Plymouth in 1502/03 followed by his son James who served as mayor in 1528, 1535 and 1542. He was a respected merchant and town clerk.
Other than that there have been no 'celebrities' most having taken up trades such as cordwainers.
More recently, one Albert Edward Horswill was one of the few crew members who survived the ill fated Titanic.
For the Horswell/Horswill family and variants I now have the following:-