The following is extracted from Thursday Handleigh's web site, which was originally provided by George R. Handleigh, who paid a genealogy company for it. The worst "bull" elements have been edited out by Robin Handley. During this editing the information most relevant to the history of the Handleys has been put in bold type.

The earliest chronicles of England reveal the early records of the name Handleigh as a Norman surname which ranks as one of the oldest.

Research shows the first record of the name Handleigh was found in Hampshire where they were granted lands by Duke William of Normandy, their liege Lord, for their distinguished assistance at the Battle of Hastings in 1066 AD.

Many alternative spellings can be found in the archives, typically linked to a common root - usually one of the Norman nobles at the Battle of Hastings. Although the name, Handleigh, appears in many references, from time to time the surname includes: Handley, Hanley, Handeley, Hanly, and changes in spelling frequently occurred, even between father and son. Scribes recorded and spelled the name as it sounded. Typically a person would be born with one spelling, married with another, and buried with a headstone which showed another. All three spellings related to the same person. Sometimes preferences for different spelling variations either resulted from a branch reference, religious affiliation, or sometimes nationalistic statements.

The family name, Handleigh, is believed to be descended originally from the Norman race, frequently but mistakenly assumed to be of French origin. They were more accurately of Viking origin. The Vikings landed in the Orkneys and Northern Scotland about the year 870 AD., under their King Stirgud the Stout. Thorfinn Rollo, his descendant landed in northern France about the year 940 AD. The French King, Charles the Simple, after Rollo laid siege to Paris, finally conceded defeat and granted northern France to Rollo. Rollo became the first Duke of Normandy, the territory of the north men. Rollo married Charles' daughter and became a convert to Christianity. Duke William, who invaded and defeated England in 1066, was descended from the first Duke Rollo of Normandy.

Duke William took a census of most of England in 1086, and recorded it in the Doomsday Book. A family name capable of being traced back to this manuscript, or to Hastings, was a signal honour for most families during the middle ages, and even to this day.

The surname, Handleigh, emerged as a notable family name in the county of Hampshire where they were recorded as a family of great antiquity, seated at Andeli [Robin: This doesn't seem to exist anywhere in the UK!], with manor and estates in that shire. Richard Andeli was recorded as a Tenant in Chief in the Doomsday Book. Soon after 1086 they branched out to Cheshire and Dorset being originally from Andeli in Normandy [Robin: This does exist.], which was famous for the Castle of Richard Coeur de Lyon [1, 2]. They flourished in England for several centuries particularly in the midland counties. The family acquired Muskham Grange in Nottingham, and Culverthorpe Hall in Lincolnshire, and their present seats included Muskham Grange. Prominent amongst the family at this time was Richard Andelia of Hampshire.

The surname, Handleigh, contributed much to local politics and in the affairs of England or Scotland. During the 11th and 12th centuries many of these Norman families moved north to Scotland. Later, in the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries England was ravaged by religious and political conflict. The monarchy, the Church and Parliament fought for supremacy. Religious elements vied for control, the State Church, the Roman Church and the Reform Church. All, in their time, made demands on rich and poor alike. They broke the spirit of men and many turned from religion, or alternatively, renewed their faith, pursuing with vigour and ferocity, the letter of the ecclesiastical law. Many families were freely "encouraged" to migrate to Ireland, or the "colonies". Non believers or dissidents were banished, sometimes even hanged.

The settlers in Ireland became known as the "Adventurers for land in Ireland". They undertook to keep the Protestant faith. In Ireland they settled in county Cork where Doohy Hanly was their seat. The O'Hanleys of Connacht were a notable Sept.

The democratic attitudes of the New World spread like wildfire. Many migrated aboard the fleet of sailing ships known as the "White Sails". The stormy Atlantic, smallpox, dysentery, cholera and typhoid took its toll on the settlers and many of these tiny, overcrowded ships arrived with only 60 or 70% of their passenger list. The migration or banishment to the New World continued, some voluntarily from Ireland, but mostly directly from England and Scotland, their home territories. Some clans and families even moved to the European continent.

In North America, migrants who could be considered as kinsman of the family name, Handleigh, or variable spellings of that same family name, included: Robert Handley, who settled in Virginia in 1635; William Handley, who settled in Virginia in 1648; Jane Handley, who settled in Maryland in 1775. From the port of arrival many settlers joined the wagon trains westward. During the American War of Independence some declared their loyalty to the Crown and moved northward into Canada and became known as the United Empire Loyalists.

The most ancient grant of a Coat of Arms found was "Silver with a red stripe between three black goats"; the Crest was a goat. [Robin: From comparing the figures on the coat of arms with internet sites describing heraldic symbols, I believe the figures to be: bucks/deer/stags/harts.]