Recorded as Hann, Han, Hain, Hane and the patronymics Hance, Hanns, Hannis, Hanson and Hansom, this is is a surname of early medieval English origin. It is a form of the earlier pre 7th century Anglo-Saxon and Germanic personal name Johan, itself from the Hebrew name "Yochanan", meaning Jehovah has favoured (me with a son), or perhaps "May Jehovah favour (this child)". However, in some cases, the name may be from the personal name Henry, which is composed of the Germanic elements "haim", meaning home, and "ric", power, or even from Randolph, which is also from a Germanic personal name, composed of the elements "rand", meaning the rim (of a shield), and "wolf", a wolf. Amongst the many recordings in early surviving rolls and registers are Henry Hanne of Liverpool in 1323, Richard Hannesonne of Nottingham in 1327 during the reign of King Edward 111rd of England 1327 - 1377. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was sometimes known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

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