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HAND Family History

Recorded as Hand, and the patronymic Hands and Handes, this is an English surname. It has at least two possible origins. The first is derived from the Olde English pre 7th Century word "hand", and used to denote a person with very large hands, or possibly one whose specific job required the continual use of "hands", as with a sailor. A sizeable group of early European surname were gradually created from the habitual use of nicknames, which were given in the first instance with reference to occupation, or to a variety of characteristics, such as physical attributes or peculiarities, and even habits of dress...