Horatio is an English male given name, an Italianized form of the ancient Roman

Latin Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through ...

'' nomen'' (name) '' Horatius'', from the Roman ''

gens In ancient Rome, a gens ( or , ; plural: ''gentes'' ) was a family consisting of individuals who shared the same nomen and who claimed descent from a common ancestor. A branch of a gens was called a ''stirps'' (plural: ''stirpes''). The ''gen ...

'' (clan) '' Horatia''. The modern Italian form is '' Orazio'', the modern Spanish form '' Horacio''. It appears to have been first used in England in 1565, in the Tudor era during which the Italian

Renaissance The Renaissance ( , ) , from , with the same meanings. is a period in European history marking the transition from the Middle Ages to modernity and covering the 15th and 16th centuries, characterized by an effort to revive and surpass ide ...

movement had started to influence English culture.

History

Horatio de Vere, 1st Baron Vere of Tilbury (1565–1635), an English military leader, was one of the earliest English holders of the name, born 34 years before

Shakespeare William Shakespeare ( 26 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's nation ...

invented the character

Horatio Horatio is an English male given name, an Italianized form of the ancient Roman Latin '' nomen'' (name) '' Horatius'', from the Roman ''gens'' (clan) '' Horatia''. The modern Italian form is '' Orazio'', the modern Spanish form '' Horacio''. It ap ...

in his 1599/1601 play ''

Hamlet ''The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark'', often shortened to ''Hamlet'' (), is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare sometime between 1599 and 1601. It is Shakespeare's longest play, with 29,551 words. Set in Denmark, the play depicts ...

''. He was a grandfather of

Horatio Townshend, 1st Viscount Townshend Horatio Townshend, 1st Baron Townsend and 1st Viscount Townshend (; 14 December 1630 – 10 December 1687), known as Sir Horatio Townshend, 3rd Baronet, of Raynham, from 1648 to 1661, was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons betw ...

(1630–1687), whose son Charles Townshend, 2nd Viscount Townshend (a ward of Col.

Robert Walpole Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford, (26 August 1676 – 18 March 1745; known between 1725 and 1742 as Sir Robert Walpole) was a British statesman and Whig politician who, as First Lord of the Treasury, Chancellor of the Exchequer, and Lea ...

(1650–1700) of Houghton Hall in Norfolk) married Dorothy Walpole, one of the latter's daughters and a sister of

Horatio Walpole, 1st Baron Walpole Horatio Walpole, 1st Baron Walpole "of Wolterton", (8 December 16785 February 1757), English diplomatist, was a younger son of Col. Robert Walpole (1650–1700) of Houghton Hall in Norfolk, and was a younger brother of Robert Walpole, 1st Ear ...

(1678–1757) (and of Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford (1676–1745), the Prime Minister). The name Horatio was subsequently much used by the Walpole family and by the 1st Baron Walpole's illustrious younger cousin Admiral

Horatio Nelson Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson, 1st Duke of Bronte (29 September 1758 – 21 October 1805) was a British flag officer in the Royal Navy. His inspirational leadership, grasp of strategy, and unconventional tactics brought a ...

(1758–1805), his father's great-great grandson, born one year after 1st Baron Walpole's death. The 1st Baron Walpole's son, Horatio Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford, 2nd Baron Walpole (1723–1809) served as a godfather at the christening of Admiral Horatio Nelson in 1758, who for that reason, as was common, was given his name.Pettigrew, Thomas, ''Memoirs of the Life of Vice-Admiral, Lord Viscount Nelson, K. B., Duke of Bronté'', London, 1849, p.1 The Admiral died without issue, but his great-nephew

Horatio Nelson, 3rd Earl Nelson Horatio Nelson, 3rd Earl Nelson, (7 August 1823 – 25 February 1913), was a British politician. He was the son of Thomas Bolton (a nephew of Vice Admiral The 1st Viscount Nelson) by his wife Frances Elizabeth Eyre. On 28 February 1835 his ...

(1823–1913) (born with the surname "Bolton", eventual heir and great-nephew of the Admiral's elder brother William Nelson, 1st Earl Nelson, heir of the Admiral) carried on the name. The name "Horatio" is often informalised (or Anglicised) as "

Horace Quintus Horatius Flaccus (; 8 December 65 – 27 November 8 BC), known in the English-speaking world as Horace (), was the leading Roman lyric poet during the time of Augustus (also known as Octavian). The rhetorician Quintilian regarded his ' ...

". Prominent English-language examples of the name "Horatio" include:

People

Born 16th century

* Horatio Vere, 1st Baron Vere of Tilbury (1565–1635) (also Horace Vere or Horatio de Vere), an English military leader. Grandfather of

(1630–1687).

Born 17th century

(1630–1687), English politician *

(1678–1757), English diplomat

Born 18th century

* Horatio Walpole, 4th Earl of Orford (1717–1797), commonly known as

Horace Walpole Horatio Walpole (), 4th Earl of Orford (24 September 1717 – 2 March 1797), better known as Horace Walpole, was an English writer, art historian, man of letters, antiquarian, and Whig politician. He had Strawberry Hill House built in Twi ...

, English author, art historian, antiquarian and politician *

Horatio Sharpe Horatio Sharpe (1718 – November 9, 1790) was the 22nd proprietary governor of Maryland from 1753 to 1768 under the restored proprietary government of Maryland. Early life Horatio Sharpe was born in Hull, Yorkshire, England in 1718 to ...

(1718–1790), 22nd Proprietary Governor of Maryland * Horatio Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford (1723–1809), British politician, son of the 1st baron Walpole *

Horatio Gates Horatio Lloyd Gates (July 26, 1727April 10, 1806) was a British-born American army officer who served as a general in the Continental Army during the early years of the Revolutionary War. He took credit for the American victory in the Battl ...

(c. 1727–1806), American general * Horatio Mann (1744–1814), English politician * Horatio Walpole, 2nd Earl of Orford (1752–1822), English politician, son of the 1st earl *

Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson, 1st Duke of Bronte (29 September 1758 – 21 October 1805) was a British flag officer in the Royal Navy. His inspirational leadership, grasp of strategy, and unconventional tactics brought a ...

(1758–1805), British admiral * Horatio Seymour (Vermont politician) (1778–1857), United States senator from Vermont * Horatio Walpole, 3rd Earl of Orford (1783–1858), British politician, son of the 2nd earl * Horatio Chriesman (1797–1878) American surveyor, mayor in Mexican Texas and participant in the Texas Revolution.

Born 19th century

Horatio Thomas Austin Sir Horatio Thomas Austin (10 March 1800 – 16 November 1865) was a British Royal Navy officer and explorer. Biography Austin was born in England on 18 March 1800, the son of an official in the Chatham Dockyard. In 1828, was dispatche ...

(1801–1865), British Royal Navy officer and arctic explorer * Horatio Ross (1801–1886), Scottish sportsman and pioneering amateur photographer *

Horatio Allen Horatio Allen (May 10, 1802 – December 31, 1889) was an American civil engineer and inventor, and President of Erie Railroad in the year 1843–1844. Biography Born in Schenectady, New York, he graduated from Columbia University in 1823, ...

(1802–1889), American civil engineer and inventor * Horatio Potter (1802–1887), Episcopal bishop in the Diocese of New York *

Horatio Greenough Horatio Greenough (September 6, 1805 – December 18, 1852) was an American sculptor best known for his United States government commissions '' The Rescue'' (1837–50), ''George Washington'' (1840), and ''The Discovery of America'' (1840–4 ...

(1805–1852), American sculptor *

Horatio Bridge Horatio Bridge (April 8, 1806 – March 18, 1893) was an officer of the United States Navy who, as Chief of the Bureau of Provisions, served for many years as head of the Navy's supply organization. Appointed by his former college mate, President ...

(1806–1893), American naval commodore *

Horatio McCulloch Horatio McCulloch (November 1805 – 24 June 1867), sometimes written MacCulloch or M'Culloch, was a Scottish landscape painter. Life He was born in Glasgow in November 1805 the son of Alexander McCulloch, a cotton merchant, and his wife, M ...

(1806–1867), Scottish landscape painter * Horatio Seymour (1810–1886), American politician, 18th governor of New York *

Horatio King Horatio King (June 21, 1811 – May 20, 1897) was Postmaster General of the United States under James Buchanan. Early life Born in Paris, Maine, he received a common school education, and at the age of 18 entered the office of the Paris ''Jeff ...

(1811–1897), American politician, Postmaster General of the United States * Horatio Wills (1811–1861), Australian pastoralist and politician * Horatio Walpole, 4th Earl of Orford (second creation) (1813–1894), British politician, son of the 3rd earl *

Horatio Hale Horatio Emmons Hale (May 3, 1817 – December 28, 1896) was an American-Canadian ethnologist, philologist and businessman. He is known for his study of languages as a key for classifying ancient peoples and being able to trace their migrations. ...

(1817–1896), American-Canadian ethnologist, philologist and businessman * Horatio Wright (1820–1899), American engineer and American Civil War Union Army General *

Horatio Spafford Horatio Gates Spafford (October 20, 1828, Troy, New York – September 25, 1888, Jerusalem) was a prominent American lawyer and Presbyterian church elder. He is best known for penning the Christian hymn '' It Is Well With My Soul'' following a f ...

(1828–1888), lawyer, hymn writer * Horatio Alger, Jr. (1832–1899), American author * Horatio Davies (1842–1912), London businessman, politician and magistrate *

Horatio Frederick Phillips Horatio Frederick Phillips (1845 – 1924) was an English aviation pioneer, born in Streatham, Surrey. He was famous for building multiplane flying machines with many more sets of lifting surfaces than are normal on modern aircraft. However h ...

(1845–1924), early aviation pioneer from the United Kingdom *

Horatio J. Homer Horatio J. Homer (1848–1923) was Boston's first African-American police officer. He was hired by the Boston Police Department in 1878 and served on the force for 40 years. Early life Homer was born in Farmington, Connecticut, on May 24, 1848 ...

(1848–1923), Boston's first African-American police officer * Horatio Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener (1850–1916), British field marshal * Horatio Brown (1854–1926), Scottish historian *

Horatio Earle Horatio Sawyer Earle (1855–1935) is known as the "Father of Good Roads" or simply Horatio "Good Roads" Earle. Early life Earle was born February 14, 1855 on a farm in Mount Holly, Vermont. He married Agnes Lincoln in 1874 and they had a s ...

(1855–1935), American road advocate *

Horatio Hocken Horatio Clarence Hocken (October 12, 1857 – February 18, 1937) was a Canadians, Canadian politician, List of Toronto mayors, Mayor of Toronto, social reformer, a founder of what became the ''Toronto Star'' and Grand Master of the Orange Or ...

(1857–1937), Canadian politician, social reformer and a founder of what became the ''Toronto Star'' newspaper *

Horatio Walker Horatio Walker LL.D. (May 12, 1858 – September 27, 1938) was a Canadian painter. He worked in oils and watercolours, often depicting scenes of rural life in Canada. He was influenced by the Barbizon school. Life and work Early life ...

(1858–1938), Canadian painter *

Horatio Bottomley Horatio William Bottomley (23 March 1860 – 26 May 1933) was an English financier, journalist, editor, newspaper proprietor, swindler, and Member of Parliament. He is best known for his editorship of the popular magazine ''John Bull'', an ...

(1860–1932), English swindler, publisher and politician * Horatio Torromé (1861–1920), British/Argentinian figure skater *

Horatio Caro Horatio Caro (5 July 1862 – 15 December 1920) was an English chess player. Caro was born in Newcastle upon Tyne, England, but spent most of his chess career in Berlin, Germany having moved there when he was two years old. He played severa ...

(1862–1920), English chess player *

Horatio Parker Horatio William Parker (September 15, 1863 – December 18, 1919) was an American composer, organist and teacher. He was a central figure in musical life in New Haven, Connecticut in the late 19th century, and is best remembered as the undergr ...

(1863–1919), American composer * Horatio Dresser (1866–1945), New Thought religious leader and author *

Horatio Nelson Jackson Horatio Nelson Jackson (March 25, 1872 – January 14, 1955) was an American physician and automobile pioneer. In 1903, he and driving partner Sewall K. Crocker became the first people to drive an automobile across the United States. Earl ...

(1872–1955), American automobile pioneer and physician * Horatio Barber (1875–1964), early British aviation pioneer

Born 20th century

Horatio Luro Horatio A. Luro (February 27, 1901 - December 16, 1991) was a thoroughbred horse racing trainer in the United States. Luro was born in Argentina as one of nine children into the wealthy family of rancher and meat packer Adolfo Luro. The family ...

(1901–1991), American thoroughbred horse racing trainer * Horatio Clare (born 1973), British author * Horatio Sanz (born 1974), Chilean-born American comedian

Fictional characters

* Cap'n Turbot, a main character in the TV show '' PAW Patrol'', whose first name is "Horatio" * Horatio 2.0, a robotic tarsier in the TV series ''The Nutshack'' * Horatio Blass, character in novel, ''No Fixed Address'' * Horatio Caine, police lieutenant in the television series ''CSI: Miami'' * Horatio (Hamlet), a character in the play ''

'' (1599/1601) by William Shakespeare * Horatio Hellpop, character in the comic book series ''Nexus'' *

Horatio Hornblower Horatio Hornblower is a fictional officer in the British Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars, the protagonist of a series of novels and stories by C. S. Forester. He later became the subject of films, radio and television programmes, an ...

, naval hero in the novels of C. S. Forester * Horatio Magellan Crunch, the mascot of ''

Cap'n Crunch Cap'n Crunch is a corn and oat breakfast cereal manufactured by Quaker Oats Company, a subsidiary of PepsiCo since 2001. After introducing the original cereal in 1963, marketed simply as ''Cap'n Crunch'', Quaker Oats has since introduced numerou ...

'' cereal * Horatio Peter McCallister, a fictional character from the animated sitcom ''The Simpsons'' * Horatio the Elephant, muppet on

Sesame Street ''Sesame Street'' is an American educational children's television series that combines live-action, sketch comedy, animation and puppetry. It is produced by Sesame Workshop (known as the Children's Television Workshop until June 2000 ...

* Horatio, a character in Watch Dogs 2 * Horatio, the founder of the Horatio faction in the strategy game '' Endless Space'' * Horatio, the protagonist in Pit People

References

{{given name Masculine given names Latin given names English masculine given names