Hanmere History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Wales

The Welsh name Hanmere comes from the name of the parish of Hanmer, which was in the diocese of St. Asaph, in the county of Flint. 1

Early Origins of the Hanmere family

The surname Hanmere was first found in Flintshire (Welsh: Sir y Fflint), a historic county, created after the defeat of the Welsh Kingdom of Gwynedd in 1284, and located in north-east Wales, where the Hanmere family held a seat from early times as Lords of the manor of Hanmer in that shire, from about the year 1250.

The first to bear this name was Sir John of Macclesfield who was Constable of Carnarvon Castle who assumed the name of Hanmer from his mother's family, his mother being an heiress of Hanmer. The original family name is said to have been Mackfel, but this is thought to have been merely a corruption of Macclesfield. It is more likely that they are direct descendants of Tudor Trevor through David Ap Dai Madoc, through David Voel of Hanmer, grandson of Sir John Hopton of Bettisfield, who is claimed to be the lineal male ancestor of the Hanmers of Hanmer.

"Holbrook Hall, in the parish [of Little Waldfield in Suffolk] is the seat of a branch of the Hanmer family." 2

Early History of the Hanmere family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hanmere research. Another 178 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1332, 1370, 1387, 1420, 1543, 1574, 1575, 1584, 1590, 1598, 1604, 1606, 1612, 1615, 1624, 1628, 1629, 1640, 1659, 1669, 1677, 1678, 1687, 1701, 1714, 1715 and 1746 are included under the topic Early Hanmere History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hanmere Spelling Variations

Although there are not an extremely large number Welsh surnames, there are an inordinately large number of spelling variations of those surnames. This variety of spellings began almost immediately after the acceptance of surnames within Welsh society in the 15th century. As time progressed, these old Brythonic names were eventually were recorded in English. This process was problematic in that many of the highly inflected sounds of the native language of Wales could not be properly captured in English. Some families, however, did decide to modify their own names to indicate a branch loyalty within the family, a religious adherence, or even a patriotic affiliation. The name Hanmere has seen various spelling variations: Hanmere, Hanmare, Hanmair, Hanmer, Hanmerr, Handmer and many more.

Early Notables of the Hanmere family

Prominent amongst the family during the late Middle Ages was Sir David Hanmer, KS, SL (c.1332-1387), an Anglo-Welsh Justice of the King's Bench from Hanmer, Wales, Owain Glyndwr's father-in-law and the father of Glyndwr's chief supporters; and his wife, Margaret Hanmer (c. 1370 - c. 1420), also known by her Welsh name of Marred ferch Dafydd; Sir John Hanmer, 1st Baronet (1590-1624), an English politician who sat in the House of Commons in 1624; Sir Thomas Hanmer, 2nd Baronet...
Another 78 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Hanmere Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Hanmere family

The Welsh migration to North America in the late 19th and early 20th centuries contributed greatly to its rapid development. These migrants were in search of land, work, and freedom. Those Welsh families that survived the long ocean journey were critical to the development of new industries and factories, and to the quick settlement of land. They also added to an ever-growing rich cultural heritage. A search of the immigration and passenger lists has shown a number of people bearing the name Hanmere: George Hanmer, who settled in Bermuda in 1635; another George, who settled in Somers Island in the same year, Joseph Hanmer, who settled in New York State in 1690.

The Hanmere Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Gardez l'honneur
Motto Translation: Keep the honour.

Citations +

Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.