<< Click to Display Table of Contents >> Navigation:  Preface > Origins

Navigation: Preface >

The Origins of the Hankeys

 

The Norman People says Hankey is derived from Anché in Poitou. Robert de Anké accompanied Boamund to the Crusade, 1096 (Roger Wend., ii 76). Thomas de Hanchet, of Cambridgeshire, 1316 (Palgr., Parl. Writs).

Also Les Conquérants de l’Angleterre, par Gabriel Ogilby (manuscript) gives:
Anché , famille poitevine, fixée en Devonshire à la Conquête en la personne de Robert d’Anché qui vivait en 1100 (Mon. Angl.). Elle était originaire du village d’Anchée pres de Couhé en Poitou, et son nom c’est vicié en Angleterre en Anch, Ank, Anke et Ankey. Il y avait aussi des Anché au Comté de Kent. Richard Anch du Comté de Cornwall parait dans les testa de Nevil. Vers 1200 Isabelle, Lady d’Ank, fille de Sir Geoffroy d’Ank, chevalier, fut mariée a Michel d’Aigueville. - Pole, Devon.

Hanekyntone, Honekynton, Hanckinton - Hanecas Tun. Haneca is found in several names; it is derived from Hana, which is evidenced as the name of a moneyer.

The family of Hankey was known to be prominent in Cheshire for many centuries:

- Before 1250 Richard Hanke rode from Cheshire with letters and stayed at Clist Hydon near Exeter with the de Anks Lord of Ank. He is supposed to be the son of William de Ank, son of Richard de Ank, son of William de Ank 1100. His cousin Nicola, daughter of Sir Geoffry de Ank, married Sir William de Leigh of Cheshire and it is supposed William went to Cheshire with them and founded the Cheshire Ankes.

- In 1413 Robert Hanky became the first of the family to be Sheriff of Chester.

- In 1471 John Hanke was a member of the jury set up following a Lancastrian rising at Nantwich at the time of  Warwick’s insurrection, when Edward IV was expelled for a time and Henry VI restored.

- In 1488 John Hankey of Churton complained that a neighbour [and apparently his father in law], Robert Bostock, had so negligently looked after his fire that plaintiff’s house was burnt down, to his loss in 100 marks.

- Before 1558 Hugh Hanke of Chester, yeoman, and others answered a charge brought before the Star Chamber by the dean of the college church of St John, Chester concerning trespass and the taking of tithe, corn and hay.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

 

The following Hankeys held the office of Sheriff and Mayor:

 

The Sheriffs (as also the Mayor) on the Work-dayes, go in fair long Gownes welted with Velvet, and white Staves in their hands. But they have Violet and Scarlet for Festival dayes.

”