The present generation of the Henchen family is only the most recent to bear a name that dates back to the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. Their name comes from having lived in the village of Hanscombe, in the county of Bedfordshire. The village name comes from an Old English personal nameHan, and the Old English word camp, meaning "enclosed land."
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Early Origins of the Henchen family
The surname Henchen was first found in Bedfordshire (Old English: Bedanfordscir), located in Southeast-central England, formerly part of the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Mercia, where they held a family seat from very early times.
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Early History of the Henchen family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Henchen research. Another 53 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1255 and 1634 are included under the topic Early Henchen History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Henchen Spelling Variations
Until the dictionary, an invention of only the last few hundred years, the English language lacked any comprehensive system of spelling rules. Consequently, spelling variations in names are frequently found in early Anglo-Saxon and later Anglo-Norman documents. One person's name was often spelled several different ways over a lifetime. The recorded variations of Henchen include Handscomb, Hanscomb, Hanscombe, Handscombe, Handcome, Hanscom, Handscom, Hanscome and many more.
Early Notables of the Henchen family
More information is included under the topic Early Henchen Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Henchen family
Thousands of English families boarded ships sailing to the New World in the hope of escaping the unrest found in England at this time. Although the search for opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad took the lives of many because of the cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels, the opportunity perceived in the growing colonies of North America beckoned. Many of the settlers who survived the journey went on to make important contributions to the transplanted cultures of their adopted countries. The Henchen were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records: Thomas Hanscombe, who settled in Salem, Massachusetts in 1635; Robert Hanscome, who sailed to Virginia in 1643; and Elizabeth Henchombe to Virginia in 1719..
England
