Hename History, Family Crest & Coats of ArmsEtymology of HenameWhat does the name Hename mean? The name Hename was brought to England in the wave of migration that followed the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Hename family lived in Hanham, Gloucestershire, a hamlet, in the parish of Bitton, union of Keynsham, Upper division of the hundred of Langley and Swinehead. 1 The village dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086 when it was first recorded as Hunun. 2 Ancient records reveal the name Hename is derived from the Old English roots han, which means rock, and ham, which means village or settlement, collectively meaning "place at the rocks." 3 However, another source notes a different meaning: "at the High Enclosure [Old English heán, dat. of heáh, high; ham(m, enclosure, piece of land] Hanham is on high ground." 4 Early Origins of the Hename familyThe surname Hename was first found in Gloucestershire. Conjecturally, they are descended from Hunbald who held the lands of Hanham, now a suburb of Bristol, from Arnulf de Hesdin at the time of the taking of the Domesday Book survey in 1086 A.D. However, it was not until the 12th century when the first person of the name was officially recorded, that being of Peter de Hanham, Lord of the Manor of Hanham. 5 The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 include Thomas de Hanam, Somerset. 6 Again in Somerset, Roger de Hanam was listed there 1 Edward III (during the first year of the reign of King Edward III.) 7 The Subsidy Rolls of Somerset included Rober de Hanam in 1327 and much later, John Hanham was listed in the Feet of Fines for Warwickshire in 1437-1438. 8 Early History of the Hename familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hename research. Another 110 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1547, 1554, 1559, 1589, 1594, 1654, 1656, 1667, 1795 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Hename History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Hename Spelling VariationsSpelling variations in names were a common occurrence in the eras before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate regularly changed the spellings of their names as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Hename have been found, including Hanham, Hannam, Haname, Hannan, Hannem, Hanhams, Hannams, Hanam, Hanams, Hannum and many more. Early Notables of the Hename familyOutstanding amongst the family at this time was John Hannam or Hammond (died 1559), an English politician, Member of Parliament for Poole in 1547 and Melcombe Regis in November 1554.
Richard Hannam (d. 1656), was a robber and son of a shoemaker of Shaftesbury, Dorsetshire. "He was apprenticed to a silk weaver in London, but left to become a tapster, and finally joined a gang of thieves. He engaged in burglary unaccompanied by violence, and speedily gained great notoriety. Early in his career he was apprehended for a robbery of plate from the Earl of Pembroke, but escaped and left the country... Migration of the Hename family to IrelandSome of the Hename family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. Migration of the Hename familyFor many English families, the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. For such families, the shores of Ireland, Australia, and the New World beckoned. They left their homeland at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. Many arrived after the long voyage sick, starving, and without a penny. But even those were greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. Numerous English settlers who arrived in the United States and Canada at this time went on to make important contributions to the developing cultures of those countries. Many of those families went on to make significant contributions to the rapidly developing colonies in which they settled. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Hename were among those contributors: Thomas Hanham who settled in Virginia in 1608; twelve years before the "Mayflower"; another Thomas settled in Virginia in 1773; John Hanam arrived in San Francisco, Cal. in 1850. In Newfoundland, James Hanham settled in Hants Harbour in 1829.
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