The history of the name Hendey begins in the days of the Anglo-Saxon tribes in Britain. It was a name for a person with a mild temperment. The surname Hendey is derived from the Old English word hendy, which means courteous, kind, and gentle. This word was also often used as a personal name. A broad and miscellaneous class of surnames, nickname surnames referred to a characteristic of the first person who used the name. They can describe the bearer's favored style of clothing, appearance, habits, or character.
The surname Hendey was first found in Surrey where they held a family seat from very ancient times, some say well before the Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066 A.D.
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hendey research. Another 90 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1198 and 1391 are included under the topic Early Hendey History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Hendey 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 Hendey include: Hendy, Henday, Hendey, Hendley and others.
More information is included under the topic Early Hendey Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Some of the Hendey family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
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 Hendey or a variant listed above: Richard Hendy settled in Barbados in 1679.