language puzzle

[Jules Levin]

On another list devoted to genealogy, there has arisen a puzzling 
term used on a ship's manifest to describe
hair color.  Here is a quote:

Typed manifests give hair color of "hane" for some of the foreign
passengers, a good many of whom are Czech.  By process of elimination,
the word must mean "blond", given the other entries: "black," "brown,"
"dark," "grey".

No one recognizes "hane" as a color term in English.  The suggestion 
that it is henna has been
rejected, since those so described include many men and 
children.  Ships' manifests are
compiled at the departure point, and perhaps some Czech term slipped 
in here.  Any ideas?

Jules Levin
Los Angeles

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