Show ContentsHandville History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Handville family

The surname Handville was first found in Kent where "in the parish of Waltham is the hamlet and green of Hanville, so called after the family of Handville or Handfield, whose habitation was close to it. Several of them lie buried in this church; they afterwards removed to Ullcombe, Ashford, and Canterbury; at the former place, a descendant of them still remains" (in 1800). 1

"Samson de Andeville was sent by Duke William to defend Jersey (De Gerville). William de Andeville (12th cent.) witnessed a charter of Ranulph Meschin in Cheshire (Mon. i. 592). In 1165 Thomas de Andeville held six fees of the barony of Eudo Dapifer 2.

Jordan de Andeville was of Essex, 1203; Richard de Andeville (13th cent.) had estates in seven counties (Testa de Neville). Alexander de Andeville had a writ of military summons 1263. The family of Andeville or Handville was seated in Kent 17th cent." 3

Early History of the Handville family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Handville research. Another 129 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1106, 1432, 1455, 1487, 1510 and 1600 are included under the topic Early Handville History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Handville Spelling Variations

Handville has been spelled many different ways. Before English spelling became standardized over the last few hundred years, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. As the English language changed in the Middle Ages, absorbing pieces of Latin and French, as well as other languages, the spelling of people's names also changed considerably, even over a single lifetime. Spelling variants included: Handville, Hanville, Anville, Andville, Anvil, Anvill, Handvile, Handfill and many more.

Early Notables of the Handville family

Distinguished members of the family include

  • the Handville family of Kent

Migration of the Handville family

In an attempt to escape the chaos experienced in England, many English families boarded overcrowded and diseased ships sailing for the shores of North America and other British colonies. Those families hardy enough, and lucky enough, to make the passage intact were rewarded with land and a social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families became important contributors to the young colonies in which they settled. Early immigration and passenger lists have documented some of the first Handvilles to arrive on North American shores: the name represented in many forms and recorded from the mid 17th century in the great migration from Europe. Migrants settled in the eastern seaboard from Newfoundland, to Maine, to Virginia, the Carolinas, and to the islands..


Contemporary Notables of the name Handville (post 1700) +

  • Robert Tompkins Handville (b. 1924), American artist and illustrator


  1. Cleveland, Dutchess of The Battle Abbey Roll with some Account of the Norman Lineages. London: John Murray, Abermarle Street, 1889. Print. Volume 1 of 3
  2. Liber Niger Scutarii ("Black Book of the Exchequer"), containing reports by county on feudal holdings in England in 1166 (reign of Henry II)
  3. The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)


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