Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Hannige 956 BCS949 c.1240

• Hannie 968 c.1200 ib

• (æt) Hanige 968 c.1240 ib

• Hannei, Hanlei 1086 DB

• Hanni William Abingdon c.1240

• (in) maiori Hannee 1152–8 NLC

• Hanneiam 1155 ib

• Hanega 1187 P

• Hanneia, altera Hanneia 1185–7 NLC

• Westhannea c.1200 ib

• Est Hann', West Hann' 1220 Fees

• Esthanney, Esthannea 1242–3 ib

• Esthanneye 1346 Fine

• Easthanney 1517 DInc

• Hameia, Hammia 1202 P

• Hamnee 1204 HunterFines

• Esthammey 1240 Ch

• Enneneia c.1180 Oxoniensiav

• Henneia 1213–14 FF

• Esthenn', Esthenneya, Est Henneya, Westhenn', West Henneya 1220 Fees

• Hennegh' 1235 Cl

• Henneye 1241 Ass 1244 Cl 1295 SR

• Esthenneye 1241 Ass

• Westhenn', West Henneye 1242–3 Fees

• Esthenney(e) 1242–3 ib

• Westhenney 1275–6 RH

• Westhanne, Westhenneye 1284 Ass

• West Henneye 1324 Fine

• Enleg' 1235–6 Fees

• Hemmeye 1235–6 Fees

• Hauneye 1400 Fine

Etymology

'Island of the wild birds', OE  *hanena īeg , first el. hana 'cock'.The 'island' is probably the strip of land between Letcombe and Childrey Brooks. The name is probably referred to in the phrases on aniges ham , of haniges hamme 958 (c. 1240) BCS 1035, 'river- meadow belonging to Hanney', v. Pt 3. The forms with Han - occur continually, those with Hen - only from 1220 to 1324; the latter may be due to association with henn , which occurs in the nearby Hendred (479–80).

There were two manors in W. Hanney, the larger of which belonged to Newton Longville Priory and is presumably the maiori Hannee of 1152–8. VCH iv, 285, says that W. Hanney is also known as Church Hanney, and that E. Hanney was Long Hanney in the 18th cent.; this last name suits the shape of the modern village.