Show ContentsHaner History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Haner

What does the name Haner mean?

In ancient Anglo-Saxon England, the ancestors of the Haner surname lived in the parish of Hanbury in Staffordshire, Herefordshire or Worcestershire; or in Handborough, a parish in Oxfordshire. Hanbury literally means "high or chief fortified place," from the Old English words "heah" + "burh." The Staffordshire parish dates back to c.1185 when it was first listed as Hambury. The Herefordshire and Worcestershire parishes date back to Saxon times as Heanburh c. 765 and later were listed in the Domesday Book of 1086 1 as Hambyrie. Handbourgh literally means "hill of a man called Hagena of Hana," from the Old English personal name + "beorg." In this case, it was listed in the Domesday Book as Haneberge. 2

Early Origins of the Haner family

The surname Haner was first found in Oxfordshire where in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, we found Walter de Haneber, or Haneberowe; and Robert de Haneberge listed at that time. The Testa de Nevill, sive Liber Feodorum Roll that was taken during the reigns of Henry III-Edward I., Richard de Hanburgh was listed in Northamptonshire; Alex, de Haneburgo was in Staffordshire; and John de Haneber was listed in Oxfordshire. 3

Kirby's Quest listed Thomas de Haneberwe and John de Haneberwe in Somerset in the first year of Edward III reign. 4 Years later, Phillip de Handbury was listed as rector of Wells, Norfolk in 1327. 5

Later the Hanbury family held estates in Church Langton, Leicestershire where "the church is an ancient and stately structure in the decorated English style, of remarkably light and elegant design. The Rev. William Hanbury, for many years incumbent of the parish, and remarkable for his benevolence, and his taste for the cultivation of trees, of which he had extensive plantations, in 1767 bequeathed the profits arising from his nurseries at different periods, to trustees, for the erection of a splendid church in the parish, and for the endowment of colleges, schools, hospitals, and literary and charitable institutions of every description." 6 By 1837, these funds had realized over £6,421 since 1773 and is a trust that is still earning funds today.

Early History of the Haner family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Haner research. Another 104 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1538, 1574, 1592, 1628, 1629, 1658, 1664, 1715 and 1734 are included under the topic Early Haner History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Haner 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 Haner 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 Haner include: Hanbury, Hanby, Hinsbury, Hanbrogh, Hanbery and many more.

Early Notables of the Haner family

Notables of this surname at this time include: John Hanbury (1574-1658), an English politician, Member of Parliament for Gloucester (1628-1629), supported the Royalist cause in the English Civil War; John...
Another 29 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Haner Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Haner Ranking

In the United States, the name Haner is the 16,143rd most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 7


Haner migration to the United States +

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 Haner or a variant listed above:

Haner Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • John Haner, who landed in Virginia in 1655 8
Haner Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Catharina Haner, who settled in New York in 1710
  • Claus Haner, who arrived in America in 1741 8
  • Johan Jacob Haner, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1749 8
  • Hans Adam Haner, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1754 8
Haner Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Andreas Haner, who settled in America in 1822
  • Balthasar Joseh Haner, who settled in America in 1834
  • Joseph Haner, aged 23, who arrived in New York in 1854 8
  • Adolph Haner, who settled in Hancock Co. MS in 1859
  • Adolph Haner, who landed in Hancock County, Miss in 1859 8
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Haner (post 1700) +

  • Phil S. Haner, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Illinois, 1920 9
  • Alfred N. Haner, American politician, Member of New York State Assembly from Fulton and Hamilton counties, 1852 9


  1. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  2. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  3. Testa de Nevill or "Liber Feodorum" or "Book of Fees," thought to have been written by Ralph de Nevill, for King John (1199–1216)
  4. 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.
  5. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  6. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  7. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  8. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  9. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 9) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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