Hankford History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Early Origins of the Hankford family

The surname Hankford was first found in Dorset at Hanford, an extra-parochial liberty, in that part of the hundred of Redlane which is in the Sturminster division 1 or at Hanford in Staffordshire. This latter parish is actually older of the two as it dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086 where it was listed as Heneford. 2 Later known as Honedford in 1212, the place name literally means "ford frequented by wild birds" or "ford at the stones." 3

Alternatively the "surname is derived from a geographical locality. 'of Handforth,' a township in the parish of Cheadle, Cheshire, formerly Honford or Hondford." 4

However, we must look to Somerset to find the first entry for the family: Simon de Hanford was listed in the Pipe Rolls of 1230. Later, John de Hondford was listed in the Assize Rolls of Staffordshire in 1325. 5

Back in Cheshire, John de Honford i.e. Handforth was listed there in 1370 and Thomas de Honford in 1398. 4

Monkleigh, Devon was of particular importance to the family. "Here is the ancient seat and park of Annery, once the home of the Stapledons, then by marriage of the Hankfords. This was the residence of Sir William Hankford, born at Hankford, in Bulkworthy, and created in 1413 Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench. " 6

Early History of the Hankford family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hankford research. Another 95 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1387, 1390, 1397, 1419, 1420, 1422, 1565, 1598, 1635, 1638 and 1784 are included under the topic Early Hankford History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hankford Spelling Variations

Until quite recently, the English language has lacked a definite system of spelling rules. Consequently, Anglo-Saxon surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. Changes in Anglo-Saxon names were influenced by the evolution of the English language, as it incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other languages. Although Medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, so it is common to find one person referred to by several different spellings of his surname, even the most literate people varied the spelling of their own names. Variations of the name Hankford include Hankford, Hanforth, Hankforth, Hanckford and others.

Early Notables of the Hankford family

Distinguished members of the family include Sir William Hankeford (d. 1422), an English "judge, probably a younger brother of Sir Richard Hankeford, who held extensive estates near Bulk worthy in the parish of Buckland Brewer, Devonshire, and died in 1419-1420. He was appointed king's serjeant in 1390, was present...
Another 49 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Hankford Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Hankford family

Searching for a better life, many English families migrated to British colonies. Unfortunately, the majority of them traveled under extremely harsh conditions: overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the ocean. For those families that arrived safely, modest prosperity was attainable, and many went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the new colonies. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Hankford or a variant listed above: 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 Hankford (post 1700) +

Sir William Hankford, Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales from March 29, 1413 - January 21, 1424
Anne Hankford, Countess of Ormonde, Paternal Great-grandmother of Anne Boleyn

Citations +

Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Worth, R.N., A History of Devonshire London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, E.G., 1895. Digital