Surname Hannaford - Meaning and Origin
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Hannaford: What does the surname Hannaford mean?
The last name Hannaford is of English origin, derived from the personal name Hannon which is itself derived from the Old German name Hanuin or Haenin meaning "little genius".
The Hannafords were an old Anglo-Saxon family, one of the earliest of the names recorded in the Doomsday book and on one of the first to establish a settlement in America. The Hannafords were an integral part of early New England life; they were some of the first providers of necessary and important services to those of the area.
The Hannaford family were renowned for their business acumen and were some of the wealthiest and most influential people in the early colonies. Many famous Hannafords were involved in the Revolutionary War and some were among the founding fathers. One of the most famous Hannafords was Thomas Hutchinson, the last British royal governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony which was one of the triggering events of the American Revolution.
The Hannafords and their descendants were involved in and helped to shape various aspects of New England life and left a long, lasting and influential legacy. They have been renowned for their hard work, dedication and leadership skills. As a direct result of their endeavors many educational institutions, businesses, organizations, and even a few small towns were established and still remain today.
Order DNA origin analysisHannaford: Where does the name Hannaford come from?
The last name Hannaford is most commonly found in the United States and Canada. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "hana" and "ford", meaning a ford or crossing pathway that was used for ox carts. The earliest known records of this surname date back to the 18th century in what is now the United Kingdom.
In North America, Hannaford can be found mainly in the Canadian province of New Brunswick and along the east coast of the United States, especially in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Maryland. Other locations that Hannaford can be found include Virginia, North Carolina, West Virginia, and as far west as Kansas.
Due to its British origins, there are also some records of Hannafords in Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa.
In terms of numbers, the United States has the largest population of people with the last name Hannaford, followed by Canada. In 2019, there were approximately 11,000 people with the last name in the US and 2,100 in Canada.
While Hannaford is not considered to be a particularly common surname, it has remained steady throughout the years, likely due to the strong sense of community felt in many of the areas where it is found.
Variations of the surname Hannaford
Hannaford is an English locational surname, meaning someone from the place of enclosure or homestead. It is recorded in a variety of spelling forms, the most common of which are Hanford, Hanforde and Hannford. Alternate spellings include Hanaford, Haniford, Haniforde, Hanifor, Haneford and Haniferd.
The existence of many variants of this surname reflects the changing customs of English spelling throughout the centuries and the diversity of language usage, spoken dialects and local accents. This is especially true with regards to the period between the 13th and 15th centuries, when spellings were largely phonetic and subject to regional variation.
The surnames Hanford, Hanforde and Hannford are the most frequent spellings and were by far the most prevalent in England in the late 19th Century. In the United States, where the name was introduced in the 18th century, variants including Hanaford, Haniford, Haniforde, Hanifor, Haneford and Haniferd were common. Haniford remains the most popular spelling variant amongst U.S. residents.
Variant surnames related to Hannaford include Handford, Hampford, Hannerford, Hannerforde and Hannover. These surnames are more likely to have a different origin and no direct genealogical link to Hannaford.
Famous people with the name Hannaford
- Charles Hannaford: Australian Paralympic swimmer
- Louisa Hannaford: Cambodian Cambodian beauty pageant titleholder
- Mary Hannaford: English actress
- Nicholas Hannaford: British flautist
- Stuart Hannaford: Canadian comic book author and illustrator
- Theodore Dean Hannaford: American landscape painter and illustrator
- William W. Hannaford: American architect
- Monte Hannaford: Former professional ice hockey player from Canada
- Tristan Hannaford: English producer and songwriter
- Dick Hannaford: English footballer
- Sir Ian Hannaford: Former Australian Chairman of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation
- Jill Hannaford: Australian writer
- Wayne Hannaford: Australian writer
- Rob Hannaford: Canadian professional golfer
- Anna Hannaford: English TV presenter and fashion blogger
- Jake Hannaford: Former professional basketball player
- Sandra Hannaford: English jazz singer
- Henry Hannaford: English portrait painter
- Tom Hannaford: British comedian
- Abi Hannaford: English Actress