The Hannah surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 20,138 people carried this name — #1,779 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 14,600 people counted. That is up 5% from 19,164 in 2000.

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What the name means

The meaning of the Hannah surname

An Irish and Scottish surname, a variant of Hanna.

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary (en.wiktionary.org) — entry «Hannah» (English), by Wiktionary contributors · licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0) · excerpt, lightly adapted.

As an English and Welsh surname

Bardsley classes it as a local name, from where the family lived: ‘of Hannah’.

His entry covers Hannah and Hanna.

From Charles W. Bardsley, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, with Special American Instances (London: Henry Frowde, 1901), p. 356 · public domain.

In the Nordic population registers

48 people named Hannah is counted in Sweden.

Sweden’s figure is from 31 December 2022, the last count Statistics Sweden published.

Counted, by country

Sweden (2022) 48

Own calculations based on data from Statistics Sweden (SCB), surnames with at least two bearers, 31 December 2022 — CC BY 4.0 (names with 20 or more bearers shown).

In Scotland’s registers today

Hannah was recorded 81 times in Scotland’s registers of births, marriages and deaths in 2025.

That made it the 322nd most common name in those registers, shared with others on the same count. In 1975, the first year of the series, the count was 152. Each birth counts the child’s surname, each marriage both partners’ and each death the surname of the person who died — a yearly count of registrations, not of the people who live in Scotland.

National Records of Scotland, «Most Common Surnames, 2025» (published 26 May 2026): every surname recorded 10 or more times in the 2025 registers, and the series from 1975 · different spellings are counted separately — © Crown copyright 2026. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

In the first U.S. census, 1790

126 families named Hannah, or a close spelling, were counted in 1790.

Each family is counted by its head. About 652 people lived in those households, 5.2 to a family on average. The table counts it together with 5 other spellings. The table lists white heads of families only, in the twelve states whose 1790 records survive; Virginia’s figures come from state lists of 1782–1785.

Families, by state

Pennsylvania 56
Virginia 14
South Carolina 14
New York 13
North Carolina 12
Maryland 10
Connecticut 5
Maine 1
Massachusetts 1

U.S. Census Bureau, «A Century of Population Growth from the First Census of the United States to the Twelfth, 1790–1900» (Washington, 1909), table 111, p. 244 — public domain · names carried by at least 100 white persons in 1790.

In print

Hannah in American newspapers,
1892–1912.

Newspaper page from The Seattle Post-intelligencer carrying the name Hannah
The Seattle Post-intelligencer 1892-10-09
Newspaper page from The Columbia Herald carrying the name Hannah
The Columbia Herald 1910-06-24
Newspaper page from Lawrence Democrat carrying the name Hannah
Lawrence Democrat 1912-10-30

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 3,928 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Hannah in Australian newspapers,
1810s–2000s.

79,557 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Hannah. The most, 16,535, date from the 1910s. Weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, it stands out most in Victoria, at 1.7 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

Victoria 27,247
New South Wales 25,083
Queensland 11,500
Western Australia 6,402
South Australia 6,366
Tasmania 2,574
ACT (Canberra) 187
Northern Territory 65

Trove, National Library of Australia (trove.nla.gov.au) · articles in its digitised newspapers that name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Hannah.

Who carried it

People named Hannah,
with a public archive behind them.

  • Michael Hannah d. 1974 · actor
  • Muriel Hannah d. 1969 · painter
  • Janet Hannah d. 1956
  • John Hannah 1843–1931 · Anglican priest
  • John Hannah 1860–1942 · engineer
  • Jimmy Hannah 1868– · association football player

Wikidata (CC0) · 10 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Hannah,
in the records of 7 countries.

Soldiers, farmers, migrants and neighbours who carried the name and left a trace in public archives. Everyone shown here died long ago or was born more than a century ago.

United States1,961 records

1,961 records of the Hannah name in the United States
  • U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 567
  • Passenger arrivals in the United States, 1820–1912 515
  • Other U.S. records 879
  1. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record Samuel James Hannah

    Born 1942; from Reily, Ohio. U.S. Marine Corps, infantry officer; killed in action 1968 in Quang Nam, South Vietnam. Buried at Fayetteville National Cemetery, Arkansas.

    U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Roslyn B. Hannah

    Born 1916 in Virginia. Enlisted 1941 at Roanoke; farm hand. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1998, buried at High Bridge Presbyterian Cemetery, Natural Bridge, Virginia.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Guglielmo Hannah

    Arrived at New York in 1906 aboard the La Lorraine from Havre, aged 21; farmer. From Acri, Cosenza, Italy; bound for New York.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)

Showing 3 of 1,961 records for Hannah in the United States.

Counts: U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain) · Sacramento County, Historic Burials (CC BY 4.0) · City of Asheville (public domain, PDDL). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Vietnam Veterans Memorial, photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden, 2009 (public domain); U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Australia886 records

886 records of the Hannah name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 485
  • Victoria wills and probate, deaths to 2001 159
  • Other Australian records 242
  1. An 1829 etching of convicts being rowed out to the prison ship York in Portsmouth Harbour
    Pictured: convicts going on board a prison ship, 1829
    Transportation record John Hannah

    Transported to Van Diemen's Land aboard the Henrietta in 1843. Native of Whitehaven, Cumberland. Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1848.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Michael Hannah

    Died 1930 in Launceston, Tasmania. Will registered in Tasmania in 1930.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Margt Hannah

    Arrived in Victoria in 1856 aboard the White Star, aged 20; English.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 886 records for Hannah in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · State Library of Western Australia (CC BY 4.0) · City of Ballarat, Avenue of Honour Plaques (CC BY 3.0 AU) · ACT Government, Transport Canberra and City Services (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Prison-ship in Portsmouth Harbour, with the convicts going on board, etching by Edward William Cooke, 1829, Royal Museums Greenwich (public domain); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Canada185 records

185 records of the Hannah name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 88
  • City of Calgary cemetery records 27
  • Other Canadian records 70
  1. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record John Hannah

    Came to Ontario in 1878 aboard the Moravian, bound for Richmondhill, Ontario; Irish.

    Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario.
  2. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Civil record Joseph Hannah

    Killed in 1905 at the Springhill No. 2 mine, Nova Scotia.

    Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia.
  3. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record William Mason Hannah

    Buried in 1964 at Burnsland Cemetery, Calgary, Alberta, aged 73.

    City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary.

Showing 3 of 185 records for Hannah in Canada.

Counts: Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. · City of Niagara Falls. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Niagara Falls. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0); Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0).

United Kingdom65 records

65 records of the Hannah name in the United Kingdom
  • Stirling Council burial records 29
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 23
  • Other British records 13
  1. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record John Hannah

    Born 1891 at Glasgow; farm servant. Served in the First World War. Named in the Morayshire roll of honour (1921).

    National Library of Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record James Hannah

    Died 1922, aged 43; buried at Bannockburn Cemetery, Stirling, Scotland.

    Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
  3. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record David Hannah

    Will proved in 1916; of Amlwch, Anglesea.

    National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0)

Showing 3 of 65 records for Hannah in the United Kingdom.

Counts: Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · National Library of Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain) · National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0) · MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0); Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain).

New Zealand29 records

29 records of the Hannah name in New Zealand
  • Christchurch City cemetery records 26
  • Thames-Coromandel District cemetery records 3
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record William Hannah

    Died 1950, aged 84; buried at Ruru Lawn, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record William Hannah

    Buried in 1939 at Totara Memorial Park Cemetery, Thames-Coromandel District, Waikato, aged 86.

    Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Henry Hannah

    Died 1981, aged 60; buried at Waimairi Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 29 records for Hannah in New Zealand.

Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0) · Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

Netherlands9 records

9 records of the Hannah name in the Netherlands
  • Dutch population registers 7
  • Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths) 2
  1. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record William Hannah

    Died 1904 in Rotterdam, aged 45.

    Open Archives, Stadsarchief Rotterdam (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Margeret Carrington Hannah

    Married in 1935 in 's-Gravenhage.

    Open Archives, Haags Gemeentearchief (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the 1910 United States census, Milwaukee
    Example: U.S. census, 1910
    Population register Margaret Hannah

    In the population register of Middelburg; born 1916 in Warwick (New York).

    Open Archives, Zeeuws Archief (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 9 records for Hannah in the Netherlands.

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0); Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain); U.S. census of 1910, Milwaukee (public domain).

France3 records

3 records of the Hannah name in France France's national death register, 1970–2001
  1. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Joseph Charles Iperatus Hannah

    Born 1916 in India; died 1994 in Lyon (Rhône).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  2. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Samuel Clifford Hannah

    Born 1920 in the United Kingdom; died 1990 in Dieppe (Seine-Maritime).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Showing 2 of 3 records for Hannah in France.

Counts: Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Death register of Nice, 1930, Archives départementales des Alpes-Maritimes (public domain).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Hannah.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Hannah is.
A volume says what happened to it.

Every page in the index is free and stays free. The Heritage Volume is the long form: the full paper trail, the arms, the crossing — bound, and yours.

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