This page needs Javascript enabled in order to work properly. Click here for instructions on how to enable it in your browser.
Surname Header Image
Get access to Hannibal family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Hannibal Family History

Hannibal Surname Meaning

German: from a post-humanist personal name Hannibal (see 2 below). English: post-medieval variant of Annable from Middle English Amabil Annabel. This female personal name fell out of fashion in the late Middle Ages and the source of the surname was no longer recognized.

It was re-interpreted in the 16th century by classically educated gentlemen as being the name of the Carthaginian general Hannibal (247–182 BC). The surname was also sometimes later re-etymologized as honey + ball or bell hence spellings such as Honeyball and Hunnibell.

In this new guise, it coincided with an established variant of Annable with initial H-.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: 

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Hannibal family from?

You can see how Hannibal families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Hannibal family name was found in the USA, the UK, and Canada between 1840 and 1920. The most Hannibal families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 29 Hannibal families living in London. This was about 27% of all the recorded Hannibal's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Hannibal families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Hannibal surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Hannibal ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Licensed Victualler and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Hannibal. 34% of Hannibal men worked as a Licensed Victualler and 79% of Hannibal women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Hannibal were Newspaper Seller and Unpaid Domestic.

View Census Data for Hannibal | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • Licensed Victualler
    34%
  • Mellwright Cycle Work
    23%
  • Furniture Porter (heavy Worke
    23%
  • Newspaper Seller
    23%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    79%
  • Housewife
    8%
  • Moppercycle Works
    5%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    5%

What Hannibal family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 6,000 census records available for the last name Hannibal. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Hannibal census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Hannibal

Passenger Lists

There are 845 immigration records available for the last name Hannibal. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Hannibal immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 2,000 military records available for the last name Hannibal. For the veterans among your Hannibal ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Hannibal military records

You've only scratched the surface of Hannibal family history

Discover More

What is the average Hannibal lifespan?

Between 1942 and 2004, in the United States, Hannibal life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1942, and highest in 2001. The average life expectancy for Hannibal in 1942 was 25, and 60 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Hannibal

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Hannibal ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Hannibal family tree

Explore Your Tree
Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial