Handie History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

• Origins Available:
• England

Etymology of Handie

Handie 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 who is good with their hands, in other words, a handyman as the name was originally derived from the Old English hondi, which meant "skilled with his hands." 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 Handie family

Early History of the Handie family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Handie research. Another 60 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Handie History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Handie 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 Handie include Handy, Handie, Handey, Handye and others.

Early Notables of the Handie family

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

Migration of the Handie 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 Handie were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records: Samuel Handy who settled in Virginia in 1635; Hester Handy settled in Virginia in 1663; John Handy settled in Barbados in 1680 with his servants; John and Mary Handy with their one child settled in Barstable Massachusetts in 1822.