Hendelay History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The name Hendelay came to England with the ancestors of the Hendelay family in the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Hendelay family 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 Hendelay family

The surname Hendelay 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 Hendelay family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hendelay 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 Hendelay History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hendelay Spelling Variations

Multitudes of spelling variations are a hallmark of Anglo Norman names. Most of these names evolved in the 11th and 12th century, in the time after the Normans introduced their own Norman French language into a country where Old and Middle English had no spelling rules and the languages of the court were French and Latin. To make matters worse, medieval scribes spelled words according to sound, so names frequently appeared differently in the various documents in which they were recorded. The name was spelled Handley, Hanley, Handeley, Hanly, Handlin and many more.

Early Notables of the Hendelay family

Another 47 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Hendelay Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Hendelay family to Ireland

Some of the Hendelay 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.

Migration of the Hendelay family

Because of this political and religious unrest within English society, many people decided to immigrate to the colonies. Families left for Ireland, North America, and Australia in enormous numbers, traveling at high cost in extremely inhospitable conditions. The New World in particular was a desirable destination, but the long voyage caused many to arrive sick and starving. Those who made it, though, were welcomed by opportunities far greater than they had known at home in England. Many of these families went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Hendelay or a variant listed above: Robert Handley, who settled in Virginia in 1635; William Handley, who settled in Virginia in 1648; and Jane Handley, who settled in Maryland in 1775.

Citations +

Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
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)