At least one member of the family, Tihel de Heiron, traveled from Normandy in 1066 with William the Conqueror to England. He survived the Battle of Hastings, as his name is found on the Roll of Battle Abbey. Various copies of the Roll include the names "Heroun", "Heiron", or "Herne". These may all refer to the same individual, or there may have been more than one family member among the veterans.

According to "a venerable antiquarian" quoted by William T. Hearne in his Brief History and Genealogy of the Hearne Family (1895 and 1907), "Many who came over out of Normandy were nobles in their native country, whereby we understand them Lords and owners of such manours, towns, and castles from whence they took their denomination, or sirnames." Indeed, Hearne's book shows a picture of the Chateau du Heron, Normandy, built in the 10th century (above).

Whether some Norman nobleman chose the large bird as his "mascot", or whether a family castle was so named because it was near a heron gathering place, the name has been handed down through the generations, with many variations in spelling.

Hearne's Brief History mentions several spellings, including Hairun, Heiron, Heron, Hearn, Hearne, Herne, Hearon, and Herron. When William Hearne (d. 1691 ) left his Caribbean-based shipping business in the late 1600s and settled "back in the woods from Wicocomoco River" in what would later become the state of Maryland, he spelled his name with a final "e". Some eighty years later one of his grandsons dropped it, becoming Samuel Hearn (d. 1803).

1. William T. Hearne, Brief History and Genealogy of the Hearne Family. (Examiner Printing Company, Independence, Missouri, 1895 and 1907). Reprinted by Higginson Book Company, Derby Square, Salem, Mass. 01970, 753 pages. This book is often referred to simply as "Hearne History". (See above for on-line version.)

2. William T. Hearne, Addendum, 1912 (Examiner Printing Company, Independence, Missouri, 1912). 52 pages, beginning with p. 755, a direct continuation from last pages (753 and blank 754) of the 1907 edition. Out of print; available in some genealogical reference libraries.

3. Eakins, Ruth Hearn, Hearn-Hearne History, 1993. 187 pages, available from the author: Mrs. Ruth Hearn Eakins, 19585 U.S. Hwy 421, Watha, NC 28471.

4. Batchelder, Pauline Manning, compiler and editor, A Somerset Sampler: Families of Old Somerset County, Maryland, 1700-1776, 1994. Lower Delmarva Genealogical Society, Salisbury, Maryland 312 pages (Hearn/Hearne material on pp 127 - 160). Available from Lower Delmarva Genealogical Society, PO Box 3602, Salisbury, MD 21802-3602.