My Famous Ancestors

[Jonola (Jon)]

My first famous ancestor I will list is the Royal Academy painter George Horler. Victorian painter mainly to be found on the top of chocolate boxes these days. Big in his time though. Seen a couple on the antiquea road show. They go for 5 figures!

[hedgehog]

Wow , those are nice Jon, something to be proud of , who are the rest ? Interesting stuff!

[waltonbasinman]

Wow  Jon I would never have guessed. Have seen the Horler paintings but fancy him being a distant relation. In another time we would be calling you Ma Lord. 

[Jonola (Jon)]

As there were only about 100 Horlers in Britain in 1881 it shows its not a common name. North Somerset surname. We all originate from a man with the rather wonderful surname of Hercules Horler.

Here is another Royal Academy painter in my family line. Joseph Horler.

[detectordave]

This may be a dull question but can you paint or draw well,if so do you need a manager

[waltonbasinman]

John I know a John Horler from Swindon during my Motorcycle racing days. Would he be a relation.

[Jonola (Jon)]

Unfortunately I didn't get the painting gene Dave. I seem to follow another famous relative, the writer Sydney Horler.



Sydney Horler (July 18, 1888 - October 27, 1954) was a prolific British novelist specialising in thrillers.



His first job was with Western Daily Press and Allied Newspapers in Bristol started in 1905. This lasted until 1911 when he left to become a special writer on the staff of Edward Hulton and Co. in Manchester. He moved to London to work on the Daily Mail and Daily Citizen in Fleet Street, although he also worked in the propaganda Section of Air Intelligence towards the end of the First World War. When it ended he joined the editorial staff of George Newnes as a sub editor of the John O'London Weekly. He didn't see eye to eye with the editor and after a big row in 1919 his employment was terminated.

He decided to become a full-time writer. He became a popular author with the publication, in 1925, of his first crime novel, The Mystery of No.1, and with novels such as Checkmate (1930).

[Jonola (Jon)]

Paul, the only John Horler I know is the jazz pianist. http://www.johnhorler.co.uk/index.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Horler

This kind of gives away that I am also related to Natalie Horler, the lead singer of Cascada.

[hedgehog]

Thank goodness Natalie doesn't look like you  , lots of famous people there , any more?

[waltonbasinman]

Paul, the only John Horler I know is the jazz pianist. http://www.johnhorler.co.uk/index.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Horler

This kind of gives away that I am also related to Natalie Horler, the lead singer of Cascada.

No bad thing Jon, No bad thing.

[Jonola (Jon)]

Sacha Horler. Most notable role to date. Babe ...Pig In The City.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacha_Horler

[Jonola (Jon)]

Origins of the name - Horler. I have not been able to determine what the name Horler means so far or where it originates and neither have any other Horler researcher from what I can see. A Reverend Wickham in 'Records of Spade and Terrier" suggests that the name refers to 'coal-carrier' and Horler ancestors were involved in the Somerset coal trade in the 17th through to 19th century. He says that the name is relatively modern and did not exist in Medieval times and that "the name outlived its special application". We can say that the name is peculiar to the North East of Somerset, which is where I can trace the family roots of my grandfather. Apparently until the Victorian era, when travel became more accessible, the name was almost exclusively in this part of Somerset. In 1891 the name was mainly found in Somerset with some other Horlers in the southern counties of Wiltshire, Gloucestershire and Hampshire and some in south Wales. Variants of the Horler name include Harler, Horlor, Harlor and sometimes Horley.

[waltonbasinman]

Interesting Jon. As a archaeologist i have seen small marker stones on the edge of ancient woodland that they call Hore stones and are supposed to be associated with Charcoal burners in the late medieval and post medieval periods. Not to dissimilar a word so there may be a connection there Jon.