Today's generation of the Hunley family bears a name that was brought to England by the migration wave that was started by the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Hunley family lived in Handley, Hampshire. The name was local in nature, and was originally derived from the Old English words heah, which meant high, and leah, which meant wood. Another derivation indicates that the name is a corruption of the Norman place-name Andeli which was brought over after the Conquest in 1066. [1] And yet another source claims the name was derived from Hanley, parishes in Staffordshire, Worcestershire, and Lincolnshire. [2]
The surname Hunley was first found in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 in various counties and shires: Tristram de Hanle in Suffolk; William de Hanleye Salop (Shropshire); and Warin de Hannclaye in Lincolnshire. The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 list: Robertus de Hannclay; Peter de Hanlay; and Willelmus de Hanlay. [2]
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hunley research. Another 127 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1086, 1605, 1611 and 1619 are included under the topic Early Hunley History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, Norman French and other languages became incorporated into English throughout the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Hunley include Handley, Hanley, Handeley, Hanly and others.
More information is included under the topic Early Hunley Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
In the United States, the name Hunley is the 7,480th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. [3]
Some of the Hunley family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 31 words (2 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
In England at this time, the uncertainty of the political and religious environment of the time caused many families to board ships for distant British colonies in the hopes of finding land and opportunity, and escaping persecution. The voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, though, and many arrived in North America sick, starved, and destitute. Those who did make it, however, were greeted with greater opportunities and freedoms that they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make important contributions to the young nations in which they settled. Early immigration records have shown some of the first Hunleys to arrive on North American shores: