This surname is derived from the name of an ancestor. 'the son of Annable,' 'that perplexing name, Annabella,' as Miss Yonge styles it (History Christian Names).

There is no difficulty about it. Originally it was Amable or Amabel, but very soon became Annabel, whence the Scottish Annaple and Annabella. From this was formed Arabella; compare Harry from Henry. The Hundred Rolls give the true and earliest forms; v. Annable.

Amabilia (without surname), Buckinghamshire, 1273. Hundred Rolls.

John fil. Amabilie, Huntingdonshire, ibid.

John Amable Cambridgeshire, ibid.

Amabilia de Amet, Lincolnshire, Henry III-Edward I: Testa de Nevill, sive Liber Feodorum, temp. Henry III-Edward I.

Amabil, or Amable, or Amiable de Bydun, Bedfordshire, ibid.

The next stage, as above stated, was a change from m to n.

Richard Anabilla, Close Rolls Richard II.

John Anable, Close Rolls, 22 Edward III.

Peter fil. Annabel, 1311. Writs of Parliament.

Johan Brase, et Anabul sa femme, 1379: Poll Tax of Yorkshire.

Anabilla de Harpham, Yorkshire Testamenta Eboracensia (Surtees Society).

The final stage was to aspirate the initial vowel, so common a practice in names, as shown over and over again in this dictionary (v. Hodson). We may look upon the surname Hanniball therefore as imitative of the famous Hannibal of our school-days.

(a) Bapt. 'the son of Hannibal.' Unquestionably in some cases Hanniball and its variants must be looked upon as derived from the historical name. We find it as early as the 13th century:

Mathew Hanybal, Close Rolls, 39 Henry III.

It was also introduced into England from Italy by spice merchants and money-lenders:

Peter Haniballus, Chris Romanus. Calendarium Rotulorum Patentium in Turri Londinensi.Stolen from Fore-bears

Speaking generally, however, I doubt not the Hanniballs, &c, of our London and other English directories are but imitative, and are in reality derived from the once very familiar girl's name Annable. I may add that Arabella, the Scotch variant of Annabella, was early anticipated by the following entry:

Arable de Meyhamme, Kent, Henry III-Edward I: Testa de Nevill, sive Liber Feodorum, temp. Henry III-Edward I.

I append a few instances from modern registers:

Thomas Hannyball, 1513: Register of the University of Oxford.

1805. Married — William Green and Margaret Hanniball: St. George, Hanover Square.