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My family has a family name Hance has been passed down for several generations. It has now got to the point where no one knows where the name came from. I have researched the name and have come up empty. Here is what I do know.
The oldest usage of the name that I know of comes from my grandmother's great-great grandfather. His name was Hance Kenny. He came from Ireland to the United States in the early 1800s.
The oldest usage of the name that I know of comes from my grandmother's great-great grandfather. His name was Hance Kenny. He came from Ireland to the United States in the early 1800s.
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According to Hanks & Hodges's A Dictionary of Surnames, there are 3 different origins for Hance as a family name:
1. A patronymic from Hann, a medieval short form of Johann or John.
2. A nickname from "hands", indicating an ancestor who had hands that were remarkable in some way.
3. A Scottish contracted form of Angus.
1. A patronymic from Hann, a medieval short form of Johann or John.
2. A nickname from "hands", indicating an ancestor who had hands that were remarkable in some way.
3. A Scottish contracted form of Angus.
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Thank you!
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