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Show ContentsHandley History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
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Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

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The Norman Conquest of England in 1066 brought much change to the island nation, including many immigrants with new names. Among these immigrants were the ancestors of the Handley family, who lived in Handley, Hampshire. The name was local in nature, and was originally derived from the Old English words heah, which meant high, and leah, which meant wood. 1

Another source indicates that the name is a corruption of the Norman place-name Andeli which was brought over after the Conquest in 1066. 2 And yet another source claims the name was derived from Hanley, parishes in Staffordshire, Worcestershire, and Lincolnshire. 3

Early Origins of the Handley family

The surname Handley was first found in the Pipe Rolls for Worcestershire where Gilbert de Hanlega was recorded in 1185. Later the Assize Rolls of Yorkshire listed Laurence de Hanlaye in 1219 and in Gloucestershire, Robert de Handlegh was listed there in 1314. Early Nottinghamshire records show John Hanley in 1426. 4

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 list the name in various counties and shires: Tristram de Hanle in Suffolk; William de Hanleye Salop (Shropshire); and Warin de Hannclaye in Lincolnshire. The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 list: Robertus de Hannclay; Peter de Hanlay; and Willelmus de Hanlay. 3

Early History of the Handley family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Handley research. Another 127 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1086, 1605, 1611, 1619, 1752, 1784, 1788, 1789, 1793, 1832, 1835 and 1858 are included under the topic Early Handley History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Handley Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years the English language had no fixed system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations occurred commonly in Anglo Norman surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Handley were recorded, including Handley, Hanley, Handeley, Hanly, Handlin and many more.

Early Notables of the Handley family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

  • George Handley (1752-1793), English-born, American politician who served as the 18th Governor of Georgia from 1788 to 1789
  • Benjamin Handley (1784-1858) was an English soldier and Liberal politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1832 to 1835

Handley Ranking

In the United States, the name Handley is the 3,281st most popular surname with an estimated 9,948 people with that name. 5 However, in the United Kingdom, the name Handley is ranked the 916th most popular surname with an estimated 7,530 people with that name. 6

Ireland Migration of the Handley family to Ireland

Some of the Handley family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 31 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 Handley migration to the United States +

The unstable environment in England at this time caused numerous families to board ships and leave in search of opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad in places like Ireland, Australia, and particularly the New World. The voyage was extremely difficult, however, and only taken at great expense. The cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels caused many to arrive diseased and starving, not to mention destitute from the enormous cost. Still opportunity in the emerging nations of Canada and the United States was far greater than at home and many went on to make important contributions to the cultures of their adopted countries. An examination of many early immigration records reveals that people bearing the name Handley arrived in North America very early:

Handley Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Robert Handley, aged 19, who landed in Virginia in 1635 aboard the ship "Assurance" 7
  • William Handley, who settled in Virginia in 1648
  • Deborah Handley, who landed in Maryland in 1650 7
Handley Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • John Handley, who arrived in New England in 1756 7
  • Jane Handley, who settled in Maryland in 1775
Handley Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • James Handley, who arrived in Baltimore, Maryland in 1817 7
  • Patrick Ward Handley, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1847 7
  • Daniel Handley, who arrived in St Clair County, Rhode Island in 1868 7
  • Alex Handley, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1872 7

Canada Handley migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Handley Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Richard Handley, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1821

Australia Handley migration to Australia +

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

Handley Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

New Zealand Handley 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:

Handley Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • John Handley, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1841 aboard the ship Martha Ridgway
  • John Handley, aged 30, a millwright, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Martha Ridgway" in 1842
  • Martha Handley, aged 30, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Martha Ridgway" in 1842
  • Thomas Handley, aged 8, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Martha Ridgway" in 1842
  • William Handley, aged 6, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Martha Ridgway" in 1842
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Handley (post 1700) +

  • Mary Ann Handley (1936-2023), American politician, Member of the Connecticut State Senate from 1997 until her retirement in 2010, Chief Deputy Majority Leader
  • Louis Handley (1874-1950), American Olympic gold medalist for swimming at the 1904 Summer Games
  • Lee Handley (1913-1970), American Major League Baseball player
  • Maria Handley, American Democratic Party politician, Member of Democratic National Committee from Colorado, 2008; Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Colorado, 2008 13
  • Margie Handley (b. 1940), American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from California, 2004 13
  • Laurence A. Handley, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from Indiana 6th District, 1924; Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Indiana, 1932 13
  • John R. Handley, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from North Carolina, 1916, 1928, 1932 13
  • John J. Handley, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for New York State Senate 51st District, 1938 13
  • J. H. Handley, American politician, Mayor of Lake Charles, Louisiana, 1937 13
  • Harold Willis Handley (1909-1972), American Republican politician, Governor of Indiana, 1957-61; Candidate for U.S. Senator from Indiana, 1958; Delegate to Republican National Convention from Indiana, 1960 13
  • ... (Another 11 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
HMS Prince of Wales
  • Mr. Arthur M Handley, British Mechanician 1st Class, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking 14
  1. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  2. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  3. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  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. "UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
  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. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 3rd March 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/elizabeth
  9. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 5th March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/competitor
  10. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 29th September 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/fanny
  11. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 2nd December 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/camden
  12. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) HELEN THOMPSON 1840. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1840HelenThompson.gif
  13. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 9) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  14. HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html
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