These pages contain information concerning the family name of Horspool and its variants. The name is now found throughout the world but all examples seem to derive from England. Though Horspool seems to be the most common spelling used today, it has five other variations which regularly occur - Horspoole, Horsepool, Horsepoole, Horspole, and Horsepole. As well as these any researcher must be prepared to encounter an impressive array of spellings resulting from transcription errors where awkward handwriting has been misread.
This site does not attempt to create a family tree in the conventional sense but instead gathers together information on individuals and places them in various categories. A truncated family tree may be found with some individuals, showing their place in their immediate family, but no attempt has been made to link these together.
The name is not very common and analysis of UK census data reveals the following approximate numbers of individuals having the name (including variant spellings):
1881 – 372 People have the surname
1891 – 354 People have the surname
1901 – 430 People have the surname
Despite the low numbers of people with the name these individuals have left a surprisingly large amount of information enabling us to trace their lives.
The origin of the name Horspool may derive from a deserted mediaeval village which was once situated in what is now the parish of Thurgarton in Nottinghamshire.
An article which appears on the Thurgarton History website is entitled "The lost village of Horsepool".