Hence

The surname Hence originated in England during the Middle Ages. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "henc," which meant a hinge or a joining point. The name likely referred to someone who lived near a gate or a corner where paths or roads met.

The earliest recorded instance of the name dates back to the 13th century in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire, where a Nicholas Hence was mentioned. In the 14th century, the name appeared in the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire, listing a Robert Hence as a taxpayer.

One of the earliest notable individuals with the surname Hence was Sir William Hence, a knight who fought in the Wars of the Roses during the 15th century. He was born in Lincolnshire around 1420 and served under the House of Lancaster.

Another prominent figure was John Hence, a merchant and ship owner from Bristol who lived in the late 16th century. He was involved in the transatlantic trade and was known for his voyages to the Americas.

In the 17th century, the name Hence was found in various parish records across England, particularly in the counties of Devon, Gloucestershire, and Somerset. One notable individual from this period was Thomas Hence, a Puritan minister who emigrated to New England in the 1630s and became a prominent figure in the Massachusetts Bay Colony.

The surname Hence also has connections to several place names in England, such as Hencroft in Shropshire and Hencot in Gloucestershire. These places likely derived their names from the Old English words "henc" and "croft" or "cot," meaning a small dwelling or enclosure near a corner or joining point.

Other notable individuals with the surname Hence include Richard Hence, a philosopher and writer from Oxfordshire who lived in the 18th century, and Elizabeth Hence, a renowned artist and painter from Cornwall who was active in the early 19th century.