HANDY
Handy
The surname Handy is of English origin and is derived from the Old English personal name "Hand" or "Hendy", meaning "the hand". It is a metonymic occupational name, originally given to a manual labourer or someone who worked with their hands.
The Handy surname has been recorded in various forms throughout history, including Hand, Hande, Hands, Hany, and Hendy. The name is most commonly found in the southern counties of England, particularly in Devon and Cornwall.
One notable bearer of the surname Handy is George W. Handy (1920-1997), a British jazz pianist and composer known for his pioneering contributions to the jazz genre in the mid-20th century.
The Handy surname continues to be found in England and in various other English-speaking countries across the world, carried by individuals who bear the proud heritage of their ancestors.
References:
- Reaney, P.H., Wilson, R.M. (2008). A Dictionary of British Surnames. Routledge.
- Hanks, P., Coates, R., McClure, P. (2016). The Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain and Ireland. Oxford University Press.
There are approximately 2,200 people named Handy in the UK. That makes it roughly the 3,892nd most common surname in Britain. Around 34 in a million people in Britain are named Handy.
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Typical given names associated with the surname
Male
- Christopher
- David
- Graham
- James
- John
- Michael
- Paul
- Peter
- Richard
- Robert
- Stephen
Female
- Claire
- Elizabeth
- Gillian
- Jacqueline
- Jennifer
- Laura
- Linda
- Louise
- Margaret
- Mary
- Sarah
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.