Hanford History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The name Hanford belongs to the early history of Britain, it's origins lie with the Anglo-Saxons. It is a product of their having lived in the township of Handforth, in the parish of Cheadle in the county of Cheshire.

Early Origins of the Hanford family

The surname Hanford 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 Hanford family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hanford 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 Hanford History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hanford Spelling Variations

Until the dictionary, an invention of only the last few hundred years, the English language lacked any comprehensive system of spelling rules. Consequently, spelling variations in names are frequently found in early Anglo-Saxon and later Anglo-Norman documents. One person's name was often spelled several different ways over a lifetime. The recorded variations of Hanford include Handford, Hanford, Handforth and others.

Early Notables of the Hanford family

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

Hanford Ranking

In the United States, the name Hanford is the 13,274^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 4

Hanford migration to the United States +

Thousands of English families boarded ships sailing to the New World in the hope of escaping the unrest found in England at this time. Although the search for opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad took the lives of many because of the cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels, the opportunity perceived in the growing colonies of North America beckoned. Many of the settlers who survived the journey went on to make important contributions to the transplanted cultures of their adopted countries. The Hanford were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records:

Hanford Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Mrs. Eylin Hanford, aged 46, from Devon, who landed in New England in 1635 aboard the ship "Planter" 5
Miss Margaret Hanford, aged 16, who arrived in New England in 1635 aboard the ship "Planter" 6
Miss Elizabeth Hanford, aged 14, who arrived in New England in 1635 aboard the ship "Planter" 6

Hanford Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Andrew Hanford, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1851 5
Henry Hanford, aged 23, who arrived in Mobile, Ala in 1856 5
John Hanford, aged 17, who landed in New York in 1864 5

Hanford Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

George Hanford, aged 38, arrived in New York City, New York in 1919 aboard the ship "Aquitania" from Liverpool, England 7
George Hanford, aged 29, originally from Liverpool, England, arrived in New York City, New York in 1919 aboard the ship "Aquitania" from Liverpool, England 7
Charles B. Hanford, aged 21, arrived in New York in 1919 aboard the ship "Pollux" from Bilbao, Spain 7
Raymond C. Hanford, aged 38, arrived in New York in 1919 aboard the ship "La Touraine" from Havre, France 7
Robert B. Hanford, aged 42, destined for N. Y. City, arrived in New York in 1920 aboard the ship "Princess May" from Port Antonio, Jamaica 7
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Hanford (post 1700) +

Benjamin "Ben" Hanford (1861-1910), American politician, Social Democratic Candidate for Governor of New York, 1898, 1900, 1902; Candidate for Vice President of the United States, 1904, 1908 8
John Hanford, American politician, Member of New York State Assembly, (1856-1858) 8
John Van Hanford III (b. 1954), American diplomat, U.S. Ambassador for International Religious Freedom from 2002 to 2009 8
Winfield S. Hanford, American politician, Mayor of South Norwalk, Connecticut, 1878 8
Roy E. Hanford, American Republican politician, Candidate for Oregon State Senate 4th District, 1964 8
F. G. Hanford, American Democratic Party politician, Member of Alaska territorial House of Representatives 1st District, 1945-46 8
Edwin S. Hanford (b. 1858), American Republican politician, Member of New York State Assembly from Tioga County, 1901-05; Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from New York, 1916 8
Cornelius Hanford (1849-1926), American Republican politician, Member of Washington territorial House of Representatives, 1889-90; U.S. District Judge for Washington, 1890-1905 8
Elizabeth Hanford Dole (b. 1936), American Republican politician, Member, Federal Trade Commission, 1973-79; U.S. Secretary of Transportation, 1983-87; U.S. Secretary of Labor, 1989-90; President, American Red Cross, 1991-2000; Candidate for Republican nomination for President, 2000; U.S. Senator from North Carolina, 2003-
Elizabeth Hanford Dole (b. 1936), American public official and former director of the American Red Cross, she married Bob Dole in 1975

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)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
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)
Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's Retrieved January 6th 2023, retrieved from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
Ellis Island Search retrieved 15th November 2022. Retrieved from https://heritage.statueofliberty.org/passenger-result
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 9) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html