Handfeard History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The ancestry of the name Handfeard dates from the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. It comes from when the family lived in the township of Handforth, in the parish of Cheadle in the county of Cheshire.

Early Origins of the Handfeard family

The surname Handfeard was first found in Cheshire at Handforth. "The manor, as early as the reign of Henry III., was in the family of Handford, from whom, with the manor of Bosden, it passed to the Breretons, and subsequently to the Booths." 1

Handford, or Hanford is a parish in the union of Stone, in the hundred of Pirehill in Staffordshire. 1

Of the two, we know that Handforth, Cheshire dates back to the 12th century when it was first known as Haneford and it literally meant "ford frequented by cocks (wild birds)" or "ford at the stones (used as markers)" from the Old English words "hanna" + "ford." 2

As far as early records of the family, we found John de Honford (Handforth) was first listed in Earwaker's History East Cheshire in 1370. The same sources notes Thomas de Honford was listed there in 1398. 3

Handforth Hall is a former manor house in Handforth, Cheshire dating back to 1562 having been built for Sir Urian Brereton.

Early History of the Handfeard family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Handfeard research. Another 138 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1230, 1325, 1565, 1598, 1635, 1638 and 1784 are included under the topic Early Handfeard History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Handfeard Spelling Variations

Spelling variations in names were a common occurrence before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate spelled their names differently as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Handfeard have been found, including Handford, Hanford, Handforth and others.

Early Notables of the Handfeard family

More information is included under the topic Early Handfeard Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Handfeard family

Families began migrating abroad in enormous numbers because of the political and religious discontent in England. Often faced with persecution and starvation in England, the possibilities of the New World attracted many English people. Although the ocean trips took many lives, those who did get to North America were instrumental in building the necessary groundwork for what would become for new powerful nations. Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America bore the name Handfeard, or a variant listed above: Thomas Handford settled in Scituate in Massachusetts in 1645; and became a Freeman of that colony; Jane, Martha and Richard Handford settled in New England in 1754..

Citations +

Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)