The Hanks Coat of Arms illustrated was drawn by an heraldic artist from information officailly recorded in ancient heraldic archives. Documentation for the Hanks Coat of Arms design can be found in Burke's General Armory. Heraldic artists of old developed their own unique language to describe an indvidual Coat of Arms. In their language, the Arms (shield) is as follows:

"Gyronny of eight az. and gu. a wolf framp. or, armed sa. langued of the second."

When translated the blazon also describes the orignal colors of the Hanks Arms as it appeared centuries ago.

Family mottos are believed to have originated as battle cries in medieval times. A Mottle was not record with this Hanks Coat of Arms.

Individual surnames originated for the purpose of more specific identification. The four primary sources for second names were: occupation, location, father's name, or personal characteristics.

The surname Hanks appears to be patronymical in origin, and is believed to be associated with the English, meaning, "descendant of Haneca." The supplementary sheet include with this report is designed to give you more information to further your understanding of the origin of names.

Different spellings of the same original surname are a common occurrence. Dictionaires of surnames indicate probable spelling variations of Hanks to be Hanke, Hankes, Hannk, Hannke and Hank.

Although bearers of the old and distinguished Hanks name comprise a small fraction of the population there are a number who have established for it a significant place in history. They include:

MARTIN HANKS (Hanke) (1633-1709). German philologist who was the Professor of History at Breslau in 1661; served as the Inspector of the Lutheran Schools; and, authored two notable works entitled, "De Romanarum Rerum Scriptoibus" written in 1675, and "De Silesus Indigenis Eruditus", written in 1707.

THADDEUS HANKS (Hanke) (1761-1817). Bohemian naturalist and traveller who collected a volume of plants he encountered in his wanderings to Mexico and South Sea Islands.

HENRY G. HANKS (1826-1907) American chemist and geologist who establised the Pacific Chemical Works in 1866; was credited with many important geological and chemical investigations for the U.S. Government; and, was the namesake for the mineral, "Hanksite."

No genealogical representation is intended or implied by this report and it does not represent individual lineage or your family tree.


© 2008, Daniel C. Hanks