Hanks History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

In an attempt to escape the chaos experienced in England, many English families boarded overcrowded and diseased ships sailing for the shores of North America and other British colonies. Those families hardy enough, and lucky enough, to make the passage intact were rewarded with land and a social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families became important contributors to the young colonies in which they settled. Early immigration and passenger lists have documented some of the first Hankss to arrive on North American shores:

Hanks Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

• George Hanks, who was a servant sent to the "Foreign Plantations" of Virginia in 1676
• Luke Hanks, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1682 2
• John Hanks, who settled in the Virginia Colony in 1690

Hanks Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

• Ann Hanks, who arrived in Georgia in 1738
• Ann Hanks, aged 42, who arrived in Georgia in 1738 2
• Edward Hanks, age 16, who arrived in Maryland in 1775
• Issac Hanks, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1775

Hanks Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

• Elijah F Hanks, who landed in Texas in 1835 2
• Wesley W Hanks, who arrived in Texas in 1835 2
• George Hanks, who arrived in Mobile County, Ala in 1842 2
• John Hanks, aged 58, who landed in New York in 1868 2
• Charles Hanks, aged 11, who landed in New York in 1868 2
• ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Hanks Settlers in Australia in the 18th Century

• Mr. James Hanks, (b. 1776), aged 21, English labourer who was convicted in Oxford, Oxfordshire, England for 7 years for burglary, transported aboard the "Barwell" in September 1797, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1842 3

Hanks Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

• Robert P Hanks, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "The Stratheden" in 1850 4
• Mr. Richard Hanks, (b. 1832), aged 24, English farm servant from Tetbury, Gloucestershire, England, UKtravelling from Plymouth, Devon, UK aboard the ship "Aliquis" arriving in Adelaide, Australia on 26th August 1856 5
• Mrs. Sarah Hanks (née Hinder), (b. 1836), aged 20, English settler from Tetbury, Gloucestershire, England, UKtravelling from Plymouth, Devon, UK aboard the ship "Aliquis" arriving in Adelaide, Australia on 26th August 1856 5
• Richard Hanks (aged 24), a farm servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1856 aboard the ship "Aliquis"

• Thomas Jeffrey "Tom" Hanks (b. 1956), American two-time Academy Award winning, five-time Primetime Emmy Award winning and four-time Golden Globe winning film actor, recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom
• William F. Hanks, American linguist and anthropologist
• Nancy Hanks Lincoln (1784-1818), nee Hanks, mother of United States President Abraham Lincoln
• James Millander Hanks (1833-1909), American politician, U.S. Representative from Arkansas
• Fletcher Hanks Sr. (1887-1976), American cartoonist from the Golden Age of Comic Books
• Merton Hanks (b. 1968), American former NFL safety who played for the San Francisco 49ers (1991-1998) and Seattle Seahawks in 1999
• Kerri Hanks (b. 1985), American soccer forward, three-time member of the National team
• Colin Hanks (b. 1977), born Colin Lewes Dillingham, American actor, eldest son of Tom Hanks
• Steve Hanks, renowned American artist
• Jim Hanks (b. 1961), American voice-over artist and character actor
• ... (Another 19 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

• Genealogy of the Hanks and Allied Families by Gladys Hanks Johnson.
• Hanks Family Records, Including References to the Following: Bartow Family, Chappell Family, Hale Family, Johnston Family, Shumway Family; a Consolidated Index to Show the Location of Records by Stedman Shumway Hanks.