Show ContentsHanneege History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Hanneege

What does the name Hanneege mean?

Hanneege is a name whose history on English soil dates back to the wave of migration that followed the Norman Conquest of England of 1066. The Hanneege family lived in Lincolnshire, where the family were lords of the manor of Hainton.

Early Origins of the Hanneege family

The surname Hanneege was first found in Lincolnshire where they were Lords of the manor of Hainton, and Sir Robert de Heneage received a grant from Robert Blaoet who was Chancellor to King William Rufus. He was succeeded by John de Heneage, then Walter de Heneage, William de Heneage, and to John de Heneage who was possessed of the manor of Heneage.

Today, Hainton is a village and civil parish in the East Lindsey district of Lincolnshire, but this local dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086 when it was listed as Haintone 1 and literally meant "farmstead in an enclosure," from the Old English words "haegen" + "tun." 2

Hainton Hall has been the seat of the Heneage family since the reign of Henry III. The present hall was built in 1638 with later additions.

The parish of Six-Hills in Lincolnshire has another early reference to the family. "A Gilbertine priory of nuns and canons, in honour of the Blessed Virgin, was founded here by one Grella or Greslei, and at the Dissolution had a revenue of £170. 8. 9.; the site was granted to Sir Thomas Heneage." 3

Early History of the Hanneege family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hanneege research. Another 78 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1447, 1533, 1536, 1537, 1553, 1556, 1559, 1563, 1595, 1628 and 1634 are included under the topic Early Hanneege History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hanneege Spelling Variations

Anglo-Norman names are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. When the Normans became the ruling people of England in the 11th century, they introduced a new language into a society where the main languages of Old and later Middle English had no definite spelling rules. These languages were more often spoken than written, so they blended freely with one another. Contributing to this mixing of tongues was the fact that medieval scribes spelled words according to sound, ensuring that a person's name would appear differently in nearly every document in which it was recorded. The name has been spelled Heanage, Heneage, Henage, Heenage and others.

Early Notables of the Hanneege family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Sir Thomas Heneage (1533-1595), who resided at Hainton Hall served as Vice Chamberlain to Queen Elizabeth I, Member of Parliament for Stamford in 1553, for Arundel from 1559 and later for Boston in 1563. "was eldest son of Robert Heneage of Lincoln, auditor of the duchy of Lancaster, and surveyor of the queen's woods beyond Trent, by his first wife, Lucy, daughter and coheiress of Ralph Buckton of Hemswell, Lincolnshire. The father, who was fourth son of John Heneage of Hainton, near Wragby, Lincolnshire, died in 1556, and was buried in St. Katherine Cree Church...
Another 162 words (12 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Hanneege Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Hanneege family

For many English families, the political and religious disarray that plagued their homeland made the frontiers of the New World an attractive prospect. Thousands migrated, aboard cramped disease-ridden ships. They arrived sick, poor, and hungry, but were welcomed in many cases with far greater opportunity than at home in England. Many of these hardy settlers went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Among early immigrants bearing the name Hanneege or a variant listed above were: Robert Heenage who landed in North America in 1709; and John Heneage, who settled in Cuba in 1855.



The Hanneege Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Toujours firme
Motto Translation: Always firm.


  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. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.


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