Handsacre History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

In ancient Anglo-Saxon England, the ancestors of the Handsacre surname lived in Hardacre, Clapham, in the West Riding of Yorkshire. The place-name is derived from the Old English personal name Hearda, and the Old English word æcer or the Old Scandinavian word akr, both of which mean "plot of cultivated land." The place-name as a whole means "Hearda's farmland." 1

Another source claims the name was derived from the ancient Saxon word Hardgear meaning "a strong spear," and in this case it would not have any relationship to farmland.

Early Origins of the Handsacre family

The surname Handsacre was first found in Yorkshire where the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 include: Willelmus Hardaker; and Nicholaus Harthacre as holding lands there at that time. "Yorkshire must be looked upon as the chief centre." 2

There was one lone early entry for the family in Somerset, that of John de Hordacre, 1 Edward III (during the first year of the reign of King Edward III." 3

And in the village of Charlton, Worcestershire, in 1240 records show William de Handsacre held Charlton Manor.

Early History of the Handsacre family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Handsacre research. Another 195 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1300, 1321 and 1343 are included under the topic Early Handsacre History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Handsacre Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Handsacre are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Handsacre include: Hardacre, Hardaker, Hardiker, Handsacre, Handacre and others.

Early Notables of the Handsacre family

Notables of the family at this time include

Sir William Handsacre (b. c. 1300) in Handesacre in Armitage, Staffordshire...

Migration of the Handsacre family

Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Handsacre or a variant listed above: George Hardacre, who arrived in Maine in 1779.

Citations +

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)
Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.