Handay History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

• Origins Available:
• England
• Ireland

Etymology of Handay

Handay is an ancient name dating from the times of the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. It was a name for a person who was a person with a mild temperment. The surname Handay 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.

Early Origins of the Handay family

Early History of the Handay family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Handay research. Another 90 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1198 and 1391 are included under the topic Early Handay History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Handay 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 Handay include Hendy, Henday, Hendey, Hendley and others.

Early Notables of the Handay family

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

Migration of the Handay family to Ireland

Some of the Handay 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.

Migration of the Handay family

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 Handay were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records: Richard Hendy settled in Barbados in 1679.