Show ContentsHann History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Hann was spawned by the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture that ruled a majority of Britain. It comes from the baptismal name for the son of John. The given name John was originally derived from the Dutch Hans or Han. 1

Alternatively, the name coule be "a nickname or sign-name [Old English hand, a hand]." 2

And another source notes it is an "ancient personal name. Hand and Hande are, however, surnames without prefix in Hundredorum Rolls. Mr. Ferguson says: "Walking through Handsworth in Staffordshire, and seeing the name of Hand upon the shops, I said to myself, ' Handsworth is the north or estate of a man called Hand, and these may be descendants of that man.'" 3

Early Origins of the Hann family

The surname Hann was first found in Cheshire where the name first appeared as a forename in the Assize Rolls of 1288, Honde Cottrell. The Hundredorum Rolls of 1279 included Richard Hand in Bedfordshire and later Robert Hind was found in the Subsidy Rolls for Sussex in 1296. Walter Handes was listed in the Subsidy Rolls for Warwickshire in 1332. 4

In Yorkshire, The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls had a wide variety of entries: Hanse et uxor ejus; Matilda Han-wyfe; Thomas Hand; and Laurence Hande. 1

Early History of the Hann family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hann research. Another 119 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1200, 1521, 1588, 1594 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Hann History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hann Spelling Variations

Hann 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. Many variations of the name Hann have been found, including Hand, Hands and others.

Early Notables of the Hann family

More information is included under the topic Early Hann Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hann Ranking

In the United States, the name Hann is the 6,490th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 5 However, in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Hann is ranked the 95th most popular surname with an estimated 332 people with that name. 6

Ireland Migration of the Hann family to Ireland

Some of the Hann family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 77 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Hann migration to the United States +

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 Hanns to arrive on North American shores:

Hann Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Abraham Hann, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1737 7
  • Abraham Hann who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1737
  • Peter Hann, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1744 7
  • Johannes Pater Hann, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1753 7
  • Johannes Hann, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1754 7
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Hann Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Johana Augusta Hann, aged 22, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1805 7
  • Catherine Barbara, Catharina Magdelena, David, and Maria Magdelena Hann all of whom, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1805
  • Catharina Barbara Hann, aged 24, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1805 7
  • Catharina Magdalena Hann, aged 13, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1805 7
  • David Hann, aged 50, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1805 7
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Hann Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Mrs. Dorothy Hann, (b. 1849), aged 55, Cornish settler travelling aboard the ship "St Paul" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 8th May 1904 en route to Johnstown, New York, USA 8
  • Miss Dorothy Hann, (b. 1883), aged 21, Cornish settler travelling aboard the ship "St Paul" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 8th May 1904 en route to Johnstown, New York, USA 8
  • Miss Elsie Hann, (b. 1893), aged 11, Cornish settler travelling aboard the ship "St Paul" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 8th May 1904 en route to Johnstown, New York, USA 8
  • Mr. Harold Hann, (b. 1886), aged 18, Cornish settler travelling aboard the ship "St Paul" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 8th May 1904 en route to Johnstown, New York, USA 8
  • Mr. William Hann, (b. 1850), aged 54, Cornish glover travelling aboard the ship "St Paul" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 8th May 1904 en route to Johnstown, New York, USA 8

Australia Hann migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Hann Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Richard Hann, (b. 1803), aged 49, Cornish agricultural labourer departing from Plymouth on 29th August 1852 aboard the ship "Bombay" arriving in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia on 14th December 1852 9
  • Miss Mary Hann, (b. 1841), aged 11, Cornish settler departing from Plymouth on 29th August 1852 aboard the ship "Bombay" arriving in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia on 14th December 1852 9
  • Miss Emma Hann, (b. 1844), aged 8, Cornish settler departing from Plymouth on 29th August 1852 aboard the ship "Bombay" arriving in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia on 14th December 1852 9
  • Mr. Joseph Hann, (b. 1833), aged 19, Cornish agricultural labourer departing from Plymouth on 29th August 1852 aboard the ship "Bombay" arriving in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia on 14th December 1852 9
  • Mr. John Hann, (b. 1834), aged 18, Cornish agricultural labourer departing from Plymouth on 29th August 1852 aboard the ship "Bombay" arriving in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia on 14th December 1852 9
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Hann migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Hann Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mr. T Hann, British settler travelling from London, UK aboard the ship "British Queen" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 30th August 1859 10
  • Miss Maria Hann, (b. 1849), aged 18, British domestic servant travelling from London aboard the ship 'Mermaid' arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 3rd January 1868 10

Contemporary Notables of the name Hann (post 1700) +

  • Dorothy Hann, American beauty queen, Miss America in 1932
  • David W. Hann (b. 1952), American politician, Member of the Minnesota Senate (2013-)
  • George R. Hann, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Pennsylvania, 1944 11
  • George A. Hann, American politician, Candidate for New York State Senate 8th District, 1912 11
  • Donald H. Hann, American politician, Candidate in primary for Circuit Judge in Michigan 20th Circuit, 1974 11
  • James Hann (1799-1856), English mathematician, born at Washington, near Gateshead, where his father was a colliery smith 12
  • Matthew John Hann (b. 1980), English midfielder
  • Judith Hann (b. 1942), English freelance broadcaster and writer
  • Quinten Hann (b. 1977), Australian former professional snooker player, the 1999 WEPF World Eight-ball Champion and 1994
  • Julius Ferdinand von Hann (1839-1921), Austrian meteorologist, generally regarded as the father of modern meteorology
  • ... (Another 3 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Halifax Explosion
  • Mrs. Emily  Hann (1852-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 13
SS Caribou
  • Mr. Harry George Hann (b. 1908), Newfoundland crew member from Channel-Port aux Basques, Newfoundland and Labrador was travelling aboard the railway ferry "SS Caribou" when it was struck by a German submarine torpedo on 14th October 1942, the most significant sinking in Canadian waters at that time, he died in the sinking
  • Mr. Clarence Hann (b. 1899), Newfoundland crew member from Channel-Port aux Basques, Newfoundland and Labrador was travelling aboard the railway ferry "SS Caribou" when it was struck by a German submarine torpedo on 14th October 1942, the most significant sinking in Canadian waters at that time, he died in the sinking


  1. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  2. Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
  3. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  4. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  5. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  6. The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
  7. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  8. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_ellis_island_1892_on.pdf
  9. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_australia_victoria.pdf
  10. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  11. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 26) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  12. Wikisource contributors. "Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900." Wikisource . Wikisource , 4 Jun. 2018. Web. 30 June 2020
  13. Halifax Explosion Book of Remembrance | Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. (Retrieved 2014, June 23) . Retrieved from https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/halifax-explosion/halifax-explosion-book-remembrance


Houseofnames.com on Facebook