Show ContentsHannes Surname History

Hannes is one of the oldest family names to come from the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. It is derived from the baptismal name for Haine. As the naming tradition grew in Europe baptismal names began to be introduced in many countries. Baptismal names were sometimes given in honour of Christian saints and other biblical figures. There are very few Christian countries in Europe that did not adopt surnames from these religious figures.

Alternatively, the name could have been a local name from Haynes or Hawnes, a parish, in the union of Ampthill, hundred of Flitt in Bedfordshire. 1 This parish dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086 when it was recorded as Hagenes. 2 It literally meant "the enclosures." 3 Another source claims the name is from Haisne, near Arras, France. 4

Early Origins of the Hannes family

The surname Hannes was first found in the Domesday Book of 1086 where Hagene and Hagana were listed in Herefordshire and Norfolk respectively. 2

From this early listing, the name evolved and was used as both a forename and surname, as Hagena Jugement was listed in the Pipe Rolls for Suffolk in 1130. It was not until 1198 that we found the name as a surname: Rogerus filius Hane in the Feet of Fines for Norfolk. The same rolls, but for Staffordshire listed Hagan(us) in 1199 and later in Norfolk in 1240. Alicia filia Hahen was listed in the Feet of Fines for Norfolk in 1202 which is very interesting as this would have been one of the first entries for a female or "daughter" to hold lands. 5

Hugh de Haynes witnessed a charter of Payen de Beauchamp, founding Chicksand Priory, 12th century 4

Adam filius Hayne was listed in the Subsidy Rolls for Lancashire in 1332 and Peter Hain was found in the Pipe Rolls for Dorset in 1200. 5

Somerset was an early homestead for the family as seen by the following early entries: Ralph Hayne; William Hayne; Alice Heynes; Walter Heynes; and Ade Heynes. All entries were 1 Edward III (during the first year of King Edward III's reign.) 6

The Yorkshire Poll Rolls of 1379 included: Adam Hauneson; Johannes Hayne; Robertus Haynson; and Thomas Hane as all holding lands there at that time. 7

Early History of the Hannes family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hannes research. Another 63 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1202, 1552, 1564, 1582, 1594, 1631, 1645, 1653, 1659, 1668, 1671, 1672, 1675, 1690, 1693, 1696, 1697, 1701, 1702, 1705, 1710, 1723, 1737, 1749 and 1752 are included under the topic Early Hannes History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hannes Spelling Variations

Only recently has spelling become standardized in the English language. As the English language evolved in the Middle Ages, the spelling of names changed also. The name Hannes has undergone many spelling variations, including Haines, Hains, Hain, Haine, Haynes, Hainson and many more.

Early Notables of the Hannes family

Notables of this surname at this time include: John Haynes (sometimes spelled Haines) (1594-1653), English colonial magistrate from Messing Essex, one of the founders of the Connecticut Colony, he was on the committee that drafted the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut, often referred to as one of the first written constitutions Hezekiah Haynes (died 1693), second son of John Haynes of Copford Hall in Essex, was a supporter of the parliamentary cause during the English Civil War Joseph "Jo" Haines (died 1701), sometimes called Count Haines, was a 17th-century actor, singer, dancer, guitar player, fortune teller, author, and member of the King's Company. "After...
Another 119 words (8 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Hannes Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Hannes family to Ireland

Some of the Hannes family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 30 words (2 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Hannes migration to the United States +

To escape the unstable social climate in England of this time, many families boarded ships for the New World with the hope of finding land, opportunity, and greater religious and political freedom. Although the voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, those families that arrived often found greater opportunities and freedoms than they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make significant contributions to the rapidly developing colonies in which they settled. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Hannes were among those contributors:

Hannes Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Jane Hannes, who arrived in Maryland in 1678 8
Hannes Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Willem Hannes, who landed in New York in 1709 8

Contemporary Notables of the name Hannes (post 1700) +

  • Hannes Keller (1934-2022), Swiss physicist, mathematician, deep diving pioneer, and entrepreneur
  • Hannes Arch (1967-2016), Austrian pilot, World Champion (2008), killed in a helicopter crash
  • Hannes Germann (b. 1956), Swiss politician, Member of the Swiss Council of States for the Canton of Schaffhausen (2002-)
  • Hannes Heinz Goll (1934-1999), Austrian sculptor, printmaker and painter
  • Hannes Swoboda (b. 1946), Austrian social democratic politician
  • Hannes Schroll (1909-1985), Austrian Alpine ski racer, founder of the Sugar Bowl ski resort in Norden, California
  • Hannes Lindemann (b. 1922), German doctor, navigator and sailor with two solo transatlantic crossings
  • Hannes Olof Gösta Alfvén (b. 1908), Swedish physicist
  • Hannes Meyers, American Republican politician, Member of Michigan Republican State Central Committee, 1969
  • Hannes Trautloft, German fighter pilot and flying ace in the Luftwaffe, during World War II, credited with 58 aerial victories, awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross


  1. Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
  2. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  3. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  4. 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)
  5. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  6. Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
  7. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  8. 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)


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