HANNS & DORSE T |
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(With apologies to the former bus company that, during most of the 20th century, served parts of the Hampshire and Dorset area of Wessex most occupied by Dorset Hanns) |
Within the boundaries of 17th century Dorset there were a number of branches of the Hann/Hand family. They were probably related, but left their ‘base’ before the commencement of Parish Registers, so this has so far been impossible to confirm. Moving from the west to the east, they were present in the Dalwood/Stockland area (now in east Devon), the Nether Compton/Over Compton, Trent and Castleton area near Sherborne, the Stourton Caundle and Marnhull areas of the Blackmoor Vale and in Gillingham and Shaftesbury (also known as Shaston) . Later families, so far unlinked, appeared in Wootton Fitzpaine, Thorncombe, Melbury Osmond (Thomas Hardy’s ancestors, probably Dalwood Hanns) and Tarrant Hinton.
Taking each of these groups as a separate entity, I shall try and chart the progress and dispersal of the Hanns from the Dorset/Somerset borderlands throughout the English-speaking world. The Hanns of the neighbouring counties will be treated similarly
For details of the migrations of Dorset Hann families click the name of relevant branch below: (Formulating this information will be a lengthy process, so it may be some time before all options are in bold and therefore available)
the Comptons
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the Stours
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Gillingham
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Stourton Caundle
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Hardy
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Thorncombe
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Hinton Martell
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Trent
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Marnhull
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Wootton
Fitzpaine
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Also to be done |
HANNS
OF SOMERSET
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Bath
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The Mendips
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Bristol (including parts in Gloucs)
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Montacute (the roots of most Australian Hanns)
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Already completed |
HANNS
OF CORNWALL
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I have also compiled a chart of male forenames that are more common in certain branches of the family.