Hancorn Family History

Apparently from a Middle English han(e)-corn literally ‘cockerel corn or grain’ although the base-word for ‘cockerel’ had fallen out of use early.

This might mean ‘grain affected by (the rye disease) ergot’ from the cock-spur shaped affected grains; compare German regional and obsolete Hahnkorn Hahnenkorn with this meaning.

Ergot led to a serious and often fatal disease called Saint Anthony's fire in humans who ate infected grains

and it has been suggested that some symptoms of 'bewitching' such as convulsions could be explained by ergotism.