Show ContentsHandcyck History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The ancient Anglo-Saxon surname Handcyck came from from the baptismal name for the son of John, which was originally derived from the diminutive form Hann, a popular English name derived from the Flemish Hann, when translated means John. The suffix cock was added to the surname to indicate familiarity.

Early Origins of the Handcyck family

The surname Handcyck was first found in Yorkshire where one of the first records of the name was Hanecock Birunc who was listed in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273. The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 list: Warynus Hancok, Robert Hancok, Willelmus Hancok and Agnes Hankok as all living in Yorkshire at that time. [1]

Farther south in Devon, John Hancock was Warden of St Mary's College, Ottery St Mary in 1446.

Early History of the Handcyck family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Handcyck research. Another 81 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1631, 1654, 1676, 1692, 1693, 1699, 1701, 1703, 1707, 1714, 1721, 1723, 1726, 1737, 1772, 1792, 1793 and 1820 are included under the topic Early Handcyck History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Handcyck Spelling Variations

The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries; therefore,spelling variations are common among early Anglo-Saxon names. As the form of the English language changed, even the spelling of literate people's names evolved. Handcyck has been recorded under many different variations, including Hancock, Hancox, Hancocks, Hancocke, Handcock and others.

Early Notables of the Handcyck family

Notables of the family at this time include John Hancock (1737-1793), president of the Continental Congress, the first signer of the American Declaration of Independence. Because his signature was so legible, the expression "John Hancock" meaning signature evolved.Crang & Hancock, were noted organ builders. John Crang, a Devonshire man, settled in London and became a partner with Hancock, a good voicer of reeds. The latter added new reeds to many of Father Smith's...
Another 72 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Handcyck Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Handcyck family to Ireland

Some of the Handcyck family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 96 words (7 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 Handcyck family

For many English families, the political and religious disarray that shrouded England made the far away New World an attractive prospect. On cramped disease-ridden ships, thousands migrated to those British colonies that would eventually become Canada and the United States. Those hardy settlers that survived the journey often went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Handcyck or a variant listed above: Edward Hancock settled in Barbados in 1654; George Hancock settled in Virginia in 1654; John Hancock settled in Virginia in 1635; Robert Hancock settled in Barbados in 1654.



  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)


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