The name Hanahs was first used by the people of an ancient Scottish tribe called the
Strathclyde Britons. It is derived from the personal names Hannah and Anna. Another possibility is that it is a religious name, taken from that of Hannah, mother of Samuel. Most likely, however, given the family's Gaelic origins is that it was an anglicized version of the Gaelic "O hAnnaigh", meaning "descendant of Annach", a byname meaning "iniquity".
Early Origins of the Hanahs family
The surname Hanahs was first found in
Wigtownshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Bhaile na h-Uige), formerly a county in southwestern
Scotland, now part of the Council Area of Dumfries and
Galloway, where in 1296, Gilbert de Hannethe residing in the county of Wiggetone at the time, rendered homage to
King Edward I of
England during his brief conquest of
Scotland. During the same year, a Gilbert Hahanith, who may or may not be the same man, was juror on an inquest concerning the succession to Elena la Zuche. The next appearance of the name is in 1424 when John of Hanna (a name that suggests that the name may have been taken from a place, rather than of Gaelic origin) was master of a ship belonging to James, King of Scotland.
Early History of the Hanahs family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hanahs research.
Another 217 words (16 lines of text) covering the years 1673, 1st , 1658, 1689 and 1630 are included under the topic Early Hanahs History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Hanahs Spelling Variations
Before the printing press standardized spelling in the last few
hundred years, no general rules existed in the English language.
Spelling variations in Scottish names from the Middle Ages are common even within a single document. Hanahs has been spelled Hannah, Hanna, Hannay, Hanney and others.
Early Notables of the Hanahs family (pre 1700)
Another 48 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Hanahs Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Hanahs family to Ireland
Some of the Hanahs family moved to
Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 107 words (8 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 Hanahs family to the New World and Oceana
For Scottish immigrants, the great expense of travel to North America did not seem such a problem in those unstable times. Acres of land awaited them and many got the chance to fight for their freedom in the American
War of Independence. These Scots and their ancestors went on to play important roles in the forging of the great nations of the United States and Canada. Among them: Alexander Hannah settled in Boston in 1766; Andrew Hannah settled in Antigua in 1679; George Hannah settled in Barbados in 1680 with his wife and two children.
The Hanahs 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: Per ardua ad alta
Motto Translation: Through straits to heights.