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

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The earliest origins of the name Hansen date back to the time of the Anglo-Saxons. The name is derived from the baptismal name for the "son of Henry," or "the son of Heyn." 1

"There are few traces of the name in the Hundred Rolls of 1273. The large business done between the English and Low Countries in the 14th century, however, made the foreign forms familiar, especially in counties like Yorkshire." 1

Early Origins of the Hansen family

The surname Hansen was first found in Yorkshire where the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 listed: Adam Hanneson; Robertus Hanson; Willelmus Hanson; Johanna Hanson, wyf (wife); and Johannes Hanneson as all holding lands there at that time. 1

The Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire listed John Handson there in 1327 and later William Hondesone was listed in the Subsidy Roll for Staffordshire in 1332. John Hanson was found in the Subsidy Rolls of Cumberland (Cumbria) in 1332 and in Lancashire, Ralph Hanneson was found there in 1350. 2

"The Hansons have for a long time resided in the parish of Halifax. A rector of Thornton two centuries ago bore this name. Richard Hanson, who was three times mayor of Hull in the reign of Henry VI., died heroically at the battle of Wakefield in 1460. Captain Hanson, who was taken prisoner in the same battle, was executed at Pontefract." 3

Early History of the Hansen family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hansen research. Another 94 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1379, 1603, 1604, 1611, 1630, 1641, 1658 and 1675 are included under the topic Early Hansen History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hansen 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 Hansen include Hanson, Hansom and others.

Early Notables of the Hansen family

Notables of this surname at this time include: John Hanson (fl. 1604), English poet, who proceeded B.A. from Peterhouse, Cambridge, in 1603-1604." He was author of a very rare volume of verse, entitled 'Time is a Turn-coate, or England's Threefold Metamorphosis ; also a pageant speech or Idylion pronounced to the citie of London before the entrance of her long expected consort,' i.e. James I, London, printed for J. H., 1604." 4 Another John...
Another 72 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Hansen Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hansen World Ranking

In the United States, the name Hansen is the 222nd most popular surname with an estimated 116,889 people with that name. 5 However, in Canada, the name Hansen is ranked the 323rd most popular surname with an estimated 13,858 people with that name. 6 And in France, the name Hansen is the 5,349th popular surname with an estimated 1,000 - 1,500 people with that name. 7 Australia ranks Hansen as 223rd with 14,997 people. 8 New Zealand ranks Hansen as 103rd with 3,955 people. 9 Netherlands ranks Hansen as 828th with 2,373 people. 10

United States Hansen migration to the United States +

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 Hansen or a variant listed above:

Hansen Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Hans Hansen, who landed in New Jersey in 1640 11
  • Thomas Hansen, who landed in Virginia in 1656 11
  • Symon Hansen, who arrived in New Netherland(s) in 1663 11
  • Hartwig Hansen, who landed in New Netherland(s) in 1663 11
  • Hendrick Hansen, who landed in New York, NY in 1663 11
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Hansen Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Isabella Hansen, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1773 11
  • Elias Hansen, who arrived in Charles Town [Charleston], South Carolina sometime between 1775 and 1779
Hansen Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Niels Christian Holger E Hansen, who landed in New York in 1835 11
  • Even Hansen, aged 50, who arrived in New York, NY in 1840 11
  • Hans Jacob Hansen, aged 26, who landed in New York, NY in 1843 11
  • Fritz Hein Hansen, who settled in Texas in 1845 aboard the ship "Margaretha"
  • Heinrich Hansen, who arrived in New York, NY in 1850
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Hansen Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • John J Hansen, who arrived in Alaska in 1903 11
  • Joppe Hansen, who arrived in Arkansas in 1904 11
  • Otto Hansen, who landed in Alabama in 1913 11
  • Sigurd Hansen, who landed in Alabama in 1917 11
  • Charles Hansen, who landed in Alabama in 1918 11
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada Hansen migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Hansen Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Lt. Richard Hansen U.E. who settled in Home District [York County], Ontario c. 1784 12
Hansen Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Jacob Hansen, who settled in Quebec in 1875

Australia Hansen migration to Australia +

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

Hansen Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • J.C. Hansen, aged 34, a tutor, who arrived in South Australia in 1848 aboard the ship "Alfred" 13
  • Catherine Hansen, aged 23, a servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1850 aboard the ship "Agincourt" 14
  • Mr. Hans Hansen, (b. 1822), aged 36, Cornish settler convicted in Bodmin, Cornwall, UK on 22nd March 1856, sentenced for life for the wilful murder of Charles Jacobi in the parish of Maker, transported aboard the ship "Nile" on 23rd September 1857 to Western Australia, Australia 15

New Zealand Hansen 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:

Hansen Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Richard Davis Hansen, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840 aboard the ship Cuba
  • Mr. Carl Hansen, (b. 1844), aged 20, British labourer travelling from London aboard the ship "Glenmark" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 21st January 1865 16
  • Hans J. Hansen, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Ballarat" in 1867
  • Anders Hansen, aged 31, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Halcione" in 1870 17
  • Ane A. Hansen, aged 29, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Halcione" in 1870 17
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Hansen (post 1700) +

  • Ken "Kim" Hansen (1951-2023), American politician, Member of the Montana Senate from 2003 to 2010
  • Bernie Hansen (1944-2021), American longtime Chicago alderman, serving on the Chicago City Council from 1983 to 2002, when he retired as alderman of the 44th Ward citing health reasons
  • James Vear Hansen (1932-2018), American Republican politician, Member of Utah State House of Representatives, 1973-80; Speaker of the Utah State House of Representatives, 1979-80; U.S. Representative from Utah 1st District, 1981- 18
  • Orval Howard Hansen (1926-2017), American Republican politician, U.S. Representative from Idaho 2nd District, 1969-75 18
  • Peter Franklin Hansen (1921-2017), American actor, best known for his role as Lee Baldwin, on the soap opera General Hospital (1965-1976) (1977-1986) and (1992-2004)
  • Warren Eugene Hansen (1928-2016), American general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (1989-2016)
  • Alvin Harvey Hansen (1887-1975), American economist and professor of economics at Harvard; he helped create the Council of Economic Advisors and the Social Security system, best known for introducing Keynesian economics in the United States in the 1930s
  • Gunnar Hansen (1947-2015), Icelandic-born American actor and author, best known for his role as Leatherface in The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)
  • Norman B. Hansen (1924-2014), American politician, Saugus, Massachusetts Town Manager (1987-1992)
  • George Vernon Hansen (1930-2014), American Republican politician, Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Idaho (1975-1985) 19
  • ... (Another 148 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Air New Zealand Flight 901
  • Mrs. Marlene Anne Hansen (1942-1979), New Zealander passenger, from Picton, South Island, New Zealand aboard the Air New Zealand Flight 901 for an Antarctic sightseeing flight when it flew into Mount Erebus; she died in the crash 20
Arrow Air Flight 1285
  • Mr. William W Hansen (1965-1985), American Private 1st Class from Stafford, Virginia, USA who died in the Arrow Air Flight 1285 crash 21
Bismarck
  • Walter Hansen (1923-1941), German Matrosengefreiter who served aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he died in the sinking 22
  • Hans Hansen (1915-1941), German Matrosenhauptgefreiter who served aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he died in the sinking 22
Flight TWA 800
  • Mr. Lars Gronbakken Hansen (d. 1996), from Norway , Norwegian passenger flying aboard flight TWA 800 from J.F.K. Airport, New York to Leonardo da Vinci Airport, Rome when the plane crashed after takeoff ; he died in the crash 23
RMS Titanic
  • Mr. Claus Peter Hansen (d. 1912), aged 41, American Third Class passenger from Racine, Wisconsin who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 24
  • Mrs. Jennie Louise Hansen, (née Howard), aged 45, American Third Class passenger from Racine, Wisconsin who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and survived in the sinking in life boat 11 24
  • Mr. Henrik Juul Hansen (d. 1912), aged 26, Danish Third Class passenger from Holeby, Storstrøm who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 24
  • Mr. Henry Damsgaard Hansen (d. 1912), aged 21, Danish Third Class passenger from Copenhagen who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking and was recovered by CS Mackay-Bennett 24
USS Arizona
  • Mr. Carlyle B. Hansen, American Machinist's Mate Second Class working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 25
  • Mr. Harvey Ralph Hansen, American Seaman First Class from Wisconsin, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 25

Suggested Readings for the name Hansen +

  • Ancestors and Kin by Robert Walden Coggeshall.
  • The Genealogy of Dale Winslow Hansen by Dale W. Hansen.
  1. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  2. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  3. Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
  4. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
  5. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  6. "Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
  7. http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
  8. "Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
  9. "Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
  10. "Most Common Last Names in Netherlands." Forebears, https://forebears.io/netherlands/surnames
  11. 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)
  12. Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
  13. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) ALFRED 1848. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1848Alfred.htm
  14. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) The AGINCOURT 1850. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1850Agincourt.htm
  15. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 30th May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_australia_convicts.pdf
  16. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  17. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 12th December 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  18. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 17) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  19. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2014, August 15) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  20. Mount Erebus, Memorial, Roll of Remembrance (Retrieved 2018, February 21st). Retrieved from http://www.erebus.co.nz/memorialandawards/rollofremembrance.aspx
  21. American War Memorials - Flight 1285. (Retrieved 2016, August 24) . Retrieved from http://www.uswarmemorials.org/html/monument_details.php?SiteID=317&MemID=550
  22. Bismarck & Tirpitz Class - Crew List Bismarck. (Retrieved 2018, February 06). Retrieved from https://www.bismarck-class.dk/bismarck/crew/bismarck_crew.html#crew_details
  23. The Washington Post Passenger List TWA Flight 800. (Retrieved 2018, February 15th). Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/national/longterm/twa800/list01.htm
  24. Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html
  25. Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html
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