Hi Folks,

In our family tree that stretches well over 500 years, actually more likely 700, I thought new researchers should be aware of the surname variants from the Yardley and Arden areas of Warwickshire that then moved over to Tardebigge, Redditch and Bromsgrove areas of Worcestershire:-

Le HENDE
HANNON - documentary evidence - with no Irish connection
HANNE
HANNES
HANDS

Other variants seen:

HANDES
HANS
HANNS

The surname HAND occasionally becomes HANDS. Whether this was an error or true transformation is unknown. Even rarer is the truncation of HANDS to HAND. In fact I have only seen this twice. Again the root cause is unknown.

I have also heard that there may also be movement of "HANDS" from the low countries.

I would welcome any contact regarding the name or likely connection

Cheers

Mike