Origin
Hall : 1: English Scottish Irish German Norwegian and Danish: from Middle English hall (Old English heall) Middle High German halle Old Norse hǫll all meaning ‘hall’ (a spacious residence) hence a topographic name for someone who lived in or near a hall or an occupational name for a servant employed at a hall. In some cases it may be a habitational name from any of the places called with this word which in some parts of Germany and Austria in the Middle Ages also denoted a salt mine. Hall is one of the commonest and most widely distributed of English surnames bearing witness to the importance of the hall as a feature of the medieval village. The English surname has been established in Ireland since the 14th century and according to MacLysaght has become numerous in Ulster since the 17th century.2: Swedish: ornamental or topographic name from hall ‘hall’ (a spacious residence) or a habitational name from a placename containing the element hall ‘rock’ (from Old Norse hallr).3: Chinese: variant Romanization of the surnames 何 and 賀 see He 1 and 2.
Ashurst : English (Lancashire): habitational name from any of various places called Ashurst from Old English æsc ‘ash tree’ + hyrst ‘wooded hill'. The most significant of these places are in Kent and West Sussex but in England the surname is now found chiefly in south Lancashire where it probably derives from Ashurst Beacon and Ashurst Hall near Wigan.
Aspley : 1: from Aspley in Brewood or Aspley in Eccleshall (both Staffs) or from Aspley Heath in Tanworth in Arden or perhaps the lost Aspley in Wixford (both Warwicks). All these place-names are from Old English æspe ‘aspen tree’ + lēah ‘wood glade’. 2: from Apsley End in Kings Langley (Herts). 3: from Aspley Guise (Beds) or possibly from Apsley End in Shillington (also Beds). 4: perhaps occasionally from another of the many places called Apsley or Aspley (the metathesis operates in both directions) such as Apsley Farm in Thakeham (Sussex) Apsley in Ellesborough (Bucks) and Aspley Hall in Radford (Notts).
Aveley : 1: perhaps a variant of Averley or vice versa. Compare Martha Averley 1787 Martha Aveley 1788 William Aveley 1833 in IGI (Soham Cambs). 2: from Aveley (Essex) a few miles east of the old City of London. The place-name is recorded as Aluithelea in 1086 Alviueleia in 1157 Alvyleye in 1272–1307 and Alveley Aveley in 1535. It derives from the Old English female personal name Ælfgȳð + Old English lēah ‘open woodland’.perhaps an occasional pronunciation of Avery with [l] for [r] or vice versa. Compare John Averey 1621 in IGI (Saint Bride Fleet Street London). 3: perhaps from Avely Hall in Assington (Suffolk) a few miles south-east of Sudbury although the surname evidence is slight and may belong with (1) or (2) or have a different but unknown origin. The place-name is recorded as Aluenelega in 1086 Alwyneleye in 1298 Alvyngley alias Alweley in 1518–29 and Alveley alias Alvingley in 1569. It derives from the Old English female personal name Ælfwynn + Old English lēah ‘open woodland’. It is not certain that the 1340 example below belongs here.
Badnall : from Baden Hall in Eccleshall (Staffs) itself from an Old English given name such as Badda + halh ‘nook corner; watermeadow’. There may well have been some confusion with Bagnall.
Bastable : English (Dorset): habitational name probably from either Barnstaple in Devon or Barstable Hall in Basildon (Essex). Both placenames probably derive from Old English bearde ‘battle-axe’ + stapol ‘pillar post’.
Beard : English:: 1: nickname for a bearded man (from Middle English berd Old English beard). To be clean-shaven was the norm in non-Jewish communities in northwestern Europe from the 12th to the 16th century the crucial period for surname formation. There is a placename and other evidence to show that this word was used as a byname in the Old English period when beards were the norm; in this period the byname would have referred to a large or noticeable beard. In North America this surname has absorbed cognates and equivalents in other languages in particular German Barth 1.2: habitational name from a place called Beard in Derbyshire (now represented by Beard Hall and Beardwood Farms in New Mills parish) which derives its name by dissimilation from Old English brerd ‘rim bank’.
Beecroft : English (Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire): habitational name from Beecroft Hall in Horton in Ribblesdale Yorkshire.
Biley : 1: see Beeley. 2: perhaps also from Byley Hall in Middlewich (Cheshire) which is recorded as Bevelei in 1086 and Byley in 1410. The place-name derives from the Old English personal name Bēofa + Old English lēah ‘open woodland’.
Birkwood : from Birkwood Hall in Mareham le Fen (Lincs) which is recorded as Birchewud' in 1199–1216 and Birkewude in 1210. The place-name derives from Old English birce ‘birch’ + wudu ‘wood’ though birce was replaced by the cognate Old Scandinavian birki.
Blackhall : 1: Scottish: habitational name from the lands of Blackhall in the regality of Garioch (Aberdeenshire).2: English: habitational name from one or other of numerous minor places called ‘black hall’ (Middle English blak(e) hall) or ‘dark corner of land’ (Middle English blak(e) hale) including Blackhall (Park) in Saint Cuthbert Without (Cumberland) Blackhall in Plymstock (Devon) Black Hall in North Huish (Devon) Blackhall in Sevenoaks (Kent) and some early tenements or halls named Blackhall in Oxford (Oxfordshire).
Blakely : 1: English and Scottish: habitational name from Blackley north of Manchester in Lancashire or possibly in some instances from Blackley in Yorkshire from apparently a compound of Old English blæc + lēah ‘black clearing’. Some forms suggest the name may be derived from an unrecorded place in Bury or Prestwich called Blakelaw ‘black hill’ (Old English blæc ‘black’ + hlāw ‘hill’) or that Blackley was also known as Blakelaw. Confusion between -law and -ley is not uncommon. The surname was confused with (and may also be a source of) Blakey.2: English: habitational name from Blakeley Hall in Witton le Wear (County Durham) from Old English blæc ‘black’ + hlāw ‘hill’.3: English: habitational name probably from Blakeley in Staffordshire with the same etymology as 1 and 2 above.
Boadle : 1: perhaps from Boadhole in Millon (Cumb) which is recorded as Boad holle in 1626 or Bawd Hall in Above Derwent (Cumb) which is recorded as Boodhole in 1575. The etymologies of these place-names are uncertain. 2: see Bodell.
Bostel : from any of various places named with Old English borgsteall ‘place of refuge’ later ‘pathway up a steep hill’ as for example Bostal Road in Poynings (Sussex) Boarstall (Bucks) Borstal Bostall Wood Borstal Hall Borstalhill Farm (Kent) and Boshill (Devon).
Bourchier : 1: perhaps from Boursières in Haute-Saône. The name was early confused with other surnames especially through loss of /r/ before /s/ and /ʃ/ and may survive in Bouchier Bowcher Bowser and Boozer. The surname gave rise to a number of minor place-names in Essex: Bourchier's alias Bouchier's Hall in Aldham Bourchier's Hall in Messing; Bouchier's Grange in Great Coggeshall Bouchiers Chapel in Tollesbury Boarstye Fm and Bowser's Hall in Rivenhall (Essex) and Boose's Green in Colne Engayne. 2: perhaps a variant of Burchard or else Burcher (see Bircher). Compare Bouchier and Boucher which may be other forms of the same name.
Bovington : English:: 1: habitational name from Bovington Hall in Bocking (Essex) Bovington (Dorset) or Boynton (Yorkshire) which are named with the Old English personal name Bōfa in the genitive form with -n or the connective -ing- + tūn ‘farm village’.2: variant of Bovingdon a cognate of 1 above. Compare Buffington.
Bowring : English: topographic name from Middle English bouring (Old English būring) a derivative of Old English būr ‘bower cottage hall’ probably denoting a cottager or perhaps one who worked at a hall (see Bower).
Boyton : English: habitational name from any of various places in southern England called Boyton: Boyton End in Thaxted Boyton Hall in Roxwell Boyton Hall in Finchingfield (all in Essex) Boyton (Suffolk) Boyton Court in East Sutton (Kent) or Boyton (Wiltshire).
Breaks : from Breaks Hall in Ormside (Westm). The place-name contains the ancestor of the dialect word break ‘land broken in for cultivation’; compare Breach.
Bridle : 1: from Bridwell in Uffculme (Devon) or Bridewell in Westbury (Wilts). The loss of -w- is common in post-medieval pronunciation of names in -well. It was occasionally retained or restored in the modern surname forms Bridewell and Bridwell. These names derive from Old English wella wiella ‘stream spring’ and the first element is brȳd ‘bride’ (or in the Devon name possibly bridd ‘bird’). 2: perhaps from Bride Hall in Sandridge (Herts) which is recorded as Brydelle 1294 and (as a surname) 1307 in Place-Names of Herts; its origin is uncertain.alternatively a variant of Britwell with intervocalic voicing of -t- to -d- and reduction of -well to -le -ell or -all as in (1). 3: perhaps occasionally a variant of Brittall (see Brettell) with intervocalic voicing of -t- to -d-.
Broomhall : English:: 1: habitational name from Broomhall (Cheshire) Broomhall Grange in Tyrley and Broom Hall Farm in Brewood (both Staffordshire) Broomhall Farms in Kempsey (Worcestorshire) or Broomhall in Sunningdale (Berkshire formerly in Windlesham in Surrey) all of which take their name from Old English brōm ‘broom gorse’ + halh ‘nook hollow’.2: variant of the similar Cheshire name Bramhall which also has early forms in -o-.3: variant of Bromell and occasionally also of Bromwell.
Bullick : 1: probably a variant of Bulloch Balloch or Bullock. 2: from Bulwick (Northants) or Bolwick Hall in Aylsham (Norfolk). The place-names are from Old English *bula ‘bull’ + wīc ‘specialized farm’.
Bunsell : possibly if the 1332 bearer cited below is relevant from Burnshall in Milton Abbot (Devon) which is recorded as Bernardshall in 1488. The place-name probably derives from the Middle English personal name Bernard (genitive Bernardes) + hall ‘hall’. If however the 1332 bearer is irrelevant and we take the 1377 bearer as our starting point the origin appears to be a lost or unidentified place-name with Old English hyll ‘hill’ as the generic element and an uncertain first element.
Burdall : from Burdale in Wharram Percy (ER Yorks) which is recorded as Breddale in 1086. The place-name appears to be Old English bred ‘board plank’ + hall ‘hall dwelling’ though some spellings suggest association with dale.
Burwood : from Burghwood Farm in Ormesby Saint Michael or Burwood Hall in Mileham (both Norfolk). The place-names probably contain Middle English burgh in the later sense ‘manor’ + wod(e) ‘wood’.
Byam : English (Suffolk): habitational name from Byham Hall in Great Maplestead (Essex).
Byham : English (Suffolk): habitational name from Byham Hall in Great Maplestead (Essex).
Chaddock : 1: English (Cheshire and Staffordshire): habitational name from Chaddock Hall in Tyldesley (Lancashire). There has probably been some confusion with another Lancashire name Chadwick.2: English (Devon): in southern England probably a variant of Shattock of uncertain origin.
Chisenhall : English: habitational name from Chisnall Hall in Lancashire which is named with Old English cisen ‘gravelly’ + halh ‘nook or corner of land’.
Chisnall : from Chisnall Hall in Lancs.
Clapperton : Scottish: habitational name perhaps from Clapperton Hall in Broxburn (West Lothian) although the hall may have been named from the surname.
Coulthurst : English (northern): habitational name from Colthurst Hall in Great Mitton Yorkshire.
Cowden : 1: Scottish: habitational name from Cowden in Dalkeith (Midlothian) and any of several other places in Scotland called Cowden.2: English: habitational name from one or more of the places so named such as Cowden in Mayfield Cowden in Wartling and Cowden Hall in Heathfield (all in Sussex) Cowden (Kent Northumberland and Yorkshire) and Green Cowden in Bakewell (Derbyshire). The surname is more or less restricted to northern England and is also found in northern Ireland where it may be of Scottish origin.
Coxall : 1: from Coggeshall (Essex). The place-name recorded as Cogeshala in 1086 (Domesday Book) is from an Old English personal name either *Cogg or Cocc (with the genitive singular -es) + halh ‘nook’. 2: perhaps from Coxall a lost place in Staffs (near Tatenhill?) recorded as Cokeshalle in 1420 and Cokesall otherwise Coxall in 1618 apparently named with the Old English personal name *Cocc + Old English hall ‘hall’ or halh ‘nook corner of land’. Its re-spelling as Cockershall and Cockersole in the 1557 and 1667 forms would arise from the use of -er- as an inverted spelling of -e- which is recorded in other names from the late 15th century. However apart from the 1381 example (which may not belong here) no evidence has been found for a medieval surname derived from this place-name.
Cranmer : English: habitational name from Cranmer Green in Walsham le Willows (Suffolk) and perhaps also from other places similarly named such as Cranmer Hall in Sculthorpe (Norfolk) Cranmore in Shalfleet (Isle of Wight) Cranmer Bottom in Selborne and Cranmore in Aldershot (both Hampshire) and East and West Cranmore (Somerset) all named from Old English cran ‘crane’ + mere ‘lake pool’ or mōr ‘moor marshy ground’. See also Cranmore with which there may have been some confusion.
Crittall : from Crit Hall in Benenden (Kent) recorded as Crotehole Crot(e)hale in 1292.
Crunden : most probably a variant of Cruttenden. Less likely from Long Crendon (Bucks) recorded as Crundon in the 13th and 14th centuries or Crondon Hall in Stock (Essex) recorded as Crunden Crundon in the 13th century.
Darley : English: habitational name from one or more of the places called Darley such as Darley Hall in Worsborough and Darley in Menwith cum Darley (Yorkshire) Darley (alias Darley Dale) near Bakewell and Darley Abbey (both Derbyshire) Darley Hall in Over by Middlewich (Cheshire) a lost Derleigh in Little Bromley (Essex) Durley (Hampshire) and Durleigh (Somerset). From Old English dēor ‘beast deer’ + lēah ‘woodland clearing’. This surname was taken to Ireland in the 17th century.
Depledge : from Depleach Hall near Cheadle (Cheshire) recorded as Depelache in 1366.
Doddington : from any of several places called Doddington (Cambs Kent Lincs Cheshire Northumb) or Dodington (Gloucs Somerset Shrops) or from Dry Doddington (Lincs) Great Doddington (Northants). In addition Dunton (Bucks) Denton (Northants) Derrington (Staffs) and Detton Hall (Shrops) all appear in Domesday Book as Dodintone and may have contributed to the surname.
Douthit : English: variant of Douthwaite a habitational name from Dowthwaite in Cumbria or Dowthwaite Hall in North Yorkshire. The first comes from the Old Norse personal name Dúfa + Old Norse thveit ‘clearing’; the second is from the Old Irish personal name Dubhan + Old Norse thveit. The elliptic form of the surname probably reflects the local pronunciation of the placenames.
Douthwaite : from Dowthwaite (Cumb) or Dowthwaite Hall (NR Yorks).
Eadsforth : from Edisford Hall in Great Mitton (WR Yorks) about 20 miles east-south-east of Garstang (Lancs) the post-medieval epicentre of the name. The Yorks name means ‘ford associated with someone named with Middle English Ede or Edy’ (see Ede Eady).
Eardley : English (Staffordshire): habitational name from Eardley Hall in Audley Stafforshire.
Eastell : from Middle English est ‘east’ + hal(le) ‘chief building hall’ or hale ‘nook remote place’ (Old English ēast + hall or halh) denoting someone who lived or worked at the ‘east hall’ or who lived at a place known as the ‘east nook’.
Estell : English:: 1: variant of Eskell from the Middle English personal name Askell Old Norse Áskell a shortened form of Ásketill (see Axtell). The personal name was also popular among the Normans sometimes in the form Anskell (ancient Germanic Ans- substituted for As-) which largely explains why the name occurs in post-Conquest England in counties not settled by Vikings.2: topographic name from Middle English est ‘east’ + hal(le) ‘chief building hall’ or hale ‘nook remote place’ (Old English ēast + hall or halh) denoting someone who lived or worked at the ‘east hall’ or who lived at a place known as the ‘east nook’.
Eyston : from Eyston Hall in Belchamp Walter (Essex) or perhaps a variant of Easton which is a very common English place-name.
Fitton : English (mainly Lancashire):: 1: from Middle English fiton fittin ‘lie falsehood’ for a lier or cheat.2: possibly a habitational name from Fitton Hall in Leverington Cambridgeshire named in Anglo-Scandinavian as ‘settlement by the meadow-land’ from Old English tūn + Old Norse fit a term denoting grassland on the bank of a river.
Flash : 1: English: topographic name from Middle English flasshe flask floshe flushe ‘shallow pool puddle swampy ground’ (Old French flache flos or Old Norse flask) denoting someone who lived by a pool or marshy place.2: English (Durham): this may allude to Flass Hall in Lanchester named from the same word as in 1 above.3: Americanized form of German and Jewish (Ashkenazic) Flasch.
Foxley : English: habitational name from any of numerous places so called such as Foxley in Blakesley (Northamptonshire) Foxley Hall in Lymm (Cheshire) Foxley (Norfolk) Foxley in Coulsdon (Surrey) Foxley in Yazor (Herefordshire) Foxley (Wiltshire) and Foxley Corner in Urchfont (also Wiltshire). The placenames derive from Old English fox ‘fox’ + lēah ‘clearing open woodland’.
Frohock : English (Cambridgeshire): habitational name from Frowick Hall in Saint Osyth Essex which is recorded as Frowyke in 1256 Frothewik in 1312.
Fullwood : English (Midlands): habitational name from a lost place called Fulwood near Clay Hall in Tanworth in Arden Warwickshire or from one or more of the other places so called such as Fulwood in Ecclesall (Yorkshire) Fulwood (Lancashire) Fulwood in Sutton in Ashfield (Nottinghamshire) and Fullwood Farm in Hulland (Derbyshire). From Old English fūl ‘dirty muddy’ + wudu ‘wood’.
Gainsford : from Gainsford Hall in Toppesfield (Essex).
Gaisford : English (Wiltshire): probably a variant of Gainsford a habitational name from Gainsford Hall in Toppesfield Essex.
Garlington : English (Lancashire): habitational name from Girlington Hall (North Yorkshire) or Girlington (Yorkshire).
Gawthorpe : from any of several places called Gawthorpe in Yorks and Lancs including Gawthorpe in Osset Gawthorpe in Lepton a lost Gawthorpe Hall in Harewood (WR Yorks) Gowthorpe in Bishop Wilton (ER Yorks) and Gawthorpe Hall in Hagergham Eaves (Lancs) all earlier recorded as Goukthorpe. See Redmonds Dictionary of Yorks Surnames.
Glendon : 1: English (Warwickshire): habitational name from Glendon Hall in Northamptonshire. The placename is derived from Old English clǣne ‘clean’ (i.e. clear of weeds) + dūn.2: Irish (Kilkenny): shortened and altered form of MacAlinden an Anglicized form of Gaelic Mac Giolla Fhionntáin ‘son of a devotee of (Saint) Fintan’. See McLinden.
Goldingham : from Goldingham Hall in Bulmer or Goldingham Farm in Braintree (Essex).
Gosnell : English:: 1: perhaps a habitational name from Goss Hall in Ash Kent recorded as Gosehale in 1210–12 and as Gosenhale (in a surname) in 1230. It may have denoted ‘Gosa's nook of land’ (Old English Gōsa genitive singular Gōsan + halh dative singular hale). By the early 1200s a member of this Kent family had apparently acquired property in Fritton Suffolk where the surname subsequently ramified in the later medieval and early modern periods.2: apparently a habitational name from Gonsal in Condover Shropshire but the place name is recorded in medieval documents only as a manorial surname (de Gosenhull) and it is possible that the place was named after a 13th-century owner who came from elsewhere. On heraldic grounds the Shrops family has been tentatively identified with the Suffolk/Kent family in 1 above. The early spellings of the Shrops name however consistently point to a derivation from Old English hyll ‘hill ’ thus ‘Gosa's hill’ not ‘Gosa' s nook of land’. While the possibility cannot be ruled out that Gosenhull was a local re-interpretation of Gosenhale the linguistic and the heraldic evidence are not easily reconciled.3: nickname from Middle English gos + nol ‘goose head’ or ‘goose neck’ perhaps either for someone with the intelligence of a goose or someone with a stubborn personality. Compare Gosnold.
Grimsditch : in most cases probably from Grimsditch Hall in Lower Whitley (Cheshire) which is recorded as Grimisdich in the early 13th century. The place appears to take its name from a lost ditch named with Old English *Grīm (genitive *Grīmes) thought to be a by-name for the god Wōden + dīc ‘ditch’. However in some cases the surname may derive from any other place or ditch so named such as Grims Ditch in Herts which is recorded as Grymesdich in 1291.
Hackshall : 1: see Hackshaw. 2: see Haxell. 3: perhaps a variant of Ashwell with prosthetic H- either from Ashwell Hall in Finchingfield (Essex) recorded as Axswell Aswell' 1250 in Book of Fees or from Ashwell (Herts) with a similar substitution of -x- for -sh-. 4: see Axtell.
Hadsall : English: probably a habitational name from an unidentified place in the West Midlands possibly Hadzor Hall in Worcestershire.
Hailes : 1: Scottish: habitational name from Hailes in Colinton (Midlothian) originally in East Lothian named from the Middle English genitive or plural form of hall ‘hall’.2: English: variant of Hales (see also Hayles).
Hald : South German and Danish: topographic name for someone living near or on a slope from Middle High German halde Danish hall ‘slope’ or a habitational name from any of several places in Denmark named from this word.
Hallam : 1: English (North Midlands): habitational name from Halam (Nottinghamshire) or from Kirk or West Hallam (Derbyshire) all named with the Old English dative plural halum ‘(at the) nooks or corners of land’ (from Old English halh ‘nook recess’; see Hale 1). The name may also be derived from Hallam in Sheffield (Yorkshire) sometimes called Hallamshire named from Old English hallum ‘(at the) rocks’ the dative plural of Old English hall ‘stone rock’ Old Norse hallr.2: English: possibly a variant of Allam with prosthetic H-.
Hallaran : from Ó hAllmhuráin see O'Halloran.
Hallberg : 1: Swedish: ornamental name composed of the (placename) elements hall ‘hall’ or ‘rock’ (see Hall 2) + berg ‘mountain hill’.2: Swedish (Hällberg): ornamental name composed of the elements häll ‘(flat) rock’ + berg ‘mountain hill’.3: Swedish (Hållberg): ornamental name from placenames beginning with Hål(l)- such as Hållen Hållnäs and Hålltorp + berg ‘mountain hill’. Compare Holberg 4.4: North German: variant of Halberg.
Halle : 1: German and English: variant of Hall.2: French (also Hallé): topographic name from Old French halle ‘covered market’ from halla ‘covered room’.3: French Canadian (Hallé): altered form of French Halay a variant of Hallay itself a variant of 2 or a habitational name from a place so named in Loire-Atlantique. Compare Hallee and Halley.4: Dutch: from a pet form of an ancient Germanic name with the first element hadu ‘battle strife’ (compare Haling 2) or perhaps a cognate of 5 below.5: In some cases possibly also Flemish (Van Halle): habitational name for someone from any of several places called Halle Hall or Hal.6: Jewish (Ashkenazic): habitational name from the city of Halle in Saxony Germany.
Hallen : 1: Swedish (mainly Hallén): ornamental topographic or a habitational name from the (placename) element hall ‘hall’ or ‘rock’ (see Hall) + the adjectival suffix -én/-en a derivative of Latin -enius ‘relating to’.2: Norwegian: habitational name from a farm name e.g. in Telemark the definite singular form of hall from Old Norse hallr ‘slope incline’.3: English (Monmouthshire): either a variant of Allen with prosthetic H- or a variant of Hallam.
Haller : 1: German and English (West and East Yorkshire): topographic name for someone who lived or worked at a hall from Hall + the agent derivative suffix -er denoting an inhabitant.2: Swiss German: topographic name a variant of Halter 1.3: German: variant of Heller 1.4: Austrian German: occupational name for a worker in the salt industry or a habitational name for someone from any of several places called Hall which also indicates salt works.
Halleron : from Ó hAllmhuráin see O'Halloran.
Hallgarth : English: habitational name from either of two places called Hallgarth (in East Yorkshire and Durham) named with Middle English hall ‘hall residence’ + garth ‘enclosure’.
Hallgate : for a dweller by a path or gateway leading to a hall from Middle English hal(le) + gate ‘path’ (Old Scandinavian gata) or gate ‘gate’ (Old English geat).
Hallgren : Swedish:: 1: ornamental name composed of the (placename) elements hall ‘hall’ or ‘rock’ (see Hall 2) + gren ‘branch’.2: (Hällgren): ornamental name composed of the elements häll ‘(flat) rock’ + gren ‘branch’.
Hallin : 1: Swedish: ornamental topographic or a habitational name from the (placename) element hall ‘hall’ or ‘rock’ (see Hall) + the adjectival suffix -in a derivative of Latin -in(i)us ‘relating to’.2: Irish: shortened Anglicized form of Gaelic Ó hAilín ‘descendant of Ailín’ a personal name which is perhaps a diminutive from ail ‘noble rock’.
Hallman : 1: English: occupational name for a servant at a hall from Middle English hal(le) + man (see Hall).2: English: topographic name for someone who lived in a hollow or nook from Middle English hale Old English halh.3: Swedish: ornamental or topographic name from the element hall ‘hall’ or ‘rock’ (see Hall) + man ‘man’ or a habitational name for someone from a place called with the element hall.4: Americanized form of German Hallmann.
Hallpike : of uncertain origin; perhaps from Hallpike a field in Bolton by Bowland (WR Yorks) apparently named with Middle English hall ‘large private residence hall’ + pike ‘pointed hill’ (Old English hall pīc) but the field-name may be derived from the surname and no medieval bearers have been found. Alternatively if the bearers Robert hirlepik' 1298 in Canterbury Cathedral Archives (Coddenham Suffolk) and Thomas Harlepyk 1368 in Suffolk Record Office (Ipswich) (Coddenham Suffolk) are relevant then the name may be from a derivative of Middle English harlen ‘to draw to drive to strike’ + pike ‘pike pickaxe’ perhaps referring to a medieval game involving pikes (compare Hurlbatt) or for someone who used a pike.
Hallquist : Swedish: ornamental name composed of the (placename) elements hall ‘hall’ or ‘rock’ (see Hall 2) + quist an old or ornamental spelling of kvist ‘twig’.
Hallstrom : Swedish:: 1: (Hallström): ornamental name composed of the (placename) elements hall ‘hall’ or ‘rock’ (see Hall 2) + ström ‘river’. Compare Halstrom.2: (Hällström): ornamental name composed of the elements häll ‘(flat) rock’ + ström ‘river’. Compare Hellstrom.
Hallward : meaning ‘keeper of the hall’ Middle English hal(le) + ward(e) (Old English hall + weard).
Hames : English:: 1: habitational name from Hames Hall in Papcastle Cumbria named from the plural of northern Middle English hame ‘homestead’.2: variant of Haimes.
Hanchett : English (Essex): habitational name from Hanchett Hall in Haverhill (Suffolk) which possibly means the ‘cockeral's hatch’ or ‘Hana's hatch’ from Old English hana ‘cockeral’ or the Old English personal name Hana with the same meaning + connective -ing- + hæc(c) ‘hatch a gate’.
Hardwick : 1: English (Yorkshire and Derbyshire): habitational name from Hardwick Hall in Ault Hucknall (Derbyshire) or any of numerous other places called with Old English heorde-wīc ‘herd farm’ (from heord ‘herd’ + wīc ‘specialized farmstead’) such as Hardwick in Yorkshire Warwickshire and Cambridgeshire and Hardwicke in Gloucestershire and Shropshire.2: Americanized form of German Hartwig.
Harmer : English:: 1: from the Middle English personal name Hermer a borrowing of Old French Her(e)mer an ancient Germanic name composed of hari heri ‘army’ + māri mēri ‘famous’.2: habitational name from Haremere Hall in Etchingham (Sussex) which may derive from Old English hār ‘gray; boundary’ + mere ‘pool’.
Harper : English (Staffordshire) Scottish Irish (Antrim and Down) and Dutch: occupational name for a player on the harp from Middle English harper(e) ‘harper’ (Old English hearpere) and Middle Dutch harper herper. The harper was one of the most important figures of a medieval baronial hall especially in Scotland and northern England and the office of harper was sometimes hereditary. The Scottish surname is probably an Anglicized form of Gaelic Mac Chruiteir ‘son of the harper’ (from Gaelic cruit ‘harp’ ‘stringed instrument’). This surname has long been present in Ireland.
Harrop : English: habitational name from Harrop Harrop Dale Harrop Hall (Yorkshire) or Harehope (Northumberland) all of which may derive from Old English hara ‘hare’ + hop ‘small enclosed valley’.
Hatton : 1: English: habitational name from any of several places called Hatton (Cheshire Derbyshire Lincolnshire Middlesex Shropshire Staffordshire Warwickshire) Hatton Hall (Cheshire) or Cold and High Hatton (Shropshire). The placenames derive from Old English hǣth ‘heath heather’ + tūn ‘farmstead estate’. Compare Heath.2: English: variant of Atton with prosthetic H- a topographic name from Middle English atte toun ‘(dweller) at the settlement’ (Old English æt thǣm tūn(e)). Compare Towne.3: Irish: shortened Anglicized form of Gaelic Mac Giolla Chatáin a patronymic from a personal name meaning ‘servant of (Saint) Catan’; see McHatton.4: French: from the Old French oblique case of the ancient Germanic personal name Hado Hatto a short form of various compound names beginning with hadu ‘strife’.
Hawksley : English: habitational name from Hawkesley Hall in King's Norton (Worcestershire) or some other similarly named place. The Worcestershire placename derives from the Old English personal name Hafoc or Old English hafoc ‘hawk’ + hlāw ‘mound hill’ while other similar placenames may have Old English lēah ‘woodland clearing’ as the final element.
Hawtin : from Anglo-Norman French and Middle English haltein haltain haltan hautain hautein hautin auteyn ‘proud haughty arrogant’ certainly attested it seems in the 1327 Staffs bearer Robertus le Hauteyn and perhaps in the Norfolk and Oxon families surnamed Halteyn Hautein but see Further information below.from an altered form of the Middle English personal name Hal(f)dan Halden Haldein Alde(i)n (Old Scandinavian Halfdan see Haldane and Alden) which was early confused with or influenced by (i) (iii) and (iv). See Further information.from Middle English half-thein (Old English healf + Þegn) ‘half thane’ either for a man of knightly rank or for a retainer. It may have been given to one who held half a tenure or half a position. See Halfnight and compare Richard Halfcarl about 1277 in Miscellaneous Inquisitions and Thomas Halfsweyn 1299 in Assize Rolls (Staffs).for a hall servant or retainer from Middle English hal(le)-thein ‘hall thane’ (Old English heall-þegn).
Headley : English: habitational name from Hedley (Durham) Hedley on the Hill (Northumberland) Headley (Yorkshire Hampshire Surrey Worcestershire) or Headley Hall in Bramham (Yorkshire). The placenames derive from Old English hǣth ‘heath heather’ + lēah ‘woodland clearing’.
Helander : Swedish: ornamental or habitational name formed with the (placename) element häll ‘(flat) rock’ + the suffix -ander derived from Greek anēr (genitive andros) ‘man’. This surname is also found in Finland.
Helin : 1: Swedish: ornamental name composed of the elements häll ‘(flat) rock’ (possibly from a placename) + the suffix -in derived from Latin -inius ‘relating to’. This surname is also found in Finland where it is more common than in Sweden.2: English (London): variant of Hellen or Ellen.3: French (Hélin): from a pet form of the personal name Hélie (see Helie 1).4: French (Hélin): from the ancient Germanic personal name Heilin a short form of any of various compound names with the first element heil (see Heilmann 2).
Hellberg : 1: North German and Norwegian: variant of Helberg.2: Swedish: ornamental name composed of the elements häll ‘(flat) rock’ (possibly from a placename) + berg ‘mountain hill’.3: Jewish (Ashkenazic): artificial name composed of German hell ‘light bright’ + Berg ‘mountain hill’.
Hellen : 1: Swedish (mainly Hellén): ornamental or habitational name formed with the (placename) element häll ‘(flat) rock’ + the adjectival suffix -én/-en a derivative of Latin -enius ‘relating to’. This surname is also found in Finland.2: English (Essex and Middlesex): variant of Ellen. From the medieval period onward there has been confusion with Helen and with the name in 3 below.3: English (Essex and Middlesex): of Norman origin a habitational name from Helléan in Morbihan Brittany (France).
Heller : 1: German: nickname from the small medieval coin known as the häller or heller because it was first minted (in 1208) at the Swabian town of (Schwäbisch) Hall. Compare Hall.2: German: topographic name for someone living by a field named with a word meaning ‘hell’ (see Helle 1).3: Dutch: variant of Helder.4: English: variant of Hillier.5: English: in some cases a topographic name from Middle English heller ‘dweller on the hill’ a term that belongs to southern England especially Surrey Kent Sussex and Hampshire. See Hiller and Huller.6: Jewish (Ashkenazic): habitational name for someone from Schwäbisch Hall.7: Jewish (Ashkenazic): nickname for a person with fair hair or a light complexion from an inflected form used before a male personal name of German hell ‘light bright’ Yiddish hel.
Hellgren : Swedish: ornamental name composed of the elements häll ‘(flat) rock’ (possibly from a placename) + gren ‘branch’. It is also found in Finland. Compare Helgren.
Hellstrom : 1: Swedish (Hellström): ornamental name composed of the elements häll ‘(flat) rock’ (as used in placenames) + ström ‘river’. Compare Helstrom and Hillstrom.2: Possibly also an Americanized form of Swedish Hällström (see Hallstrom 2) a cognate of 1 above.
Hesley : English: habitational name from Hesley Hall in Harworth (Nottinghamshire) or Hesley Hall in Ecclesfield (Yorkshire). The Nottinghamshire placename derives from Old English hæsel ‘hazel’ + lēah ‘woodland clearing’ while the Yorkshire placename comes from Old Norse hestr ‘horse stallion’ + Old English lēah.
Holleron : from Ó hAllmhuráin see O'Halloran.
Hornby : English (northern): habitational name from any of several places so called including Hornby near Tunstall (North Yorkshire) Hornby in Great Smeaton (North Yorkshire) Hornby (Lancashire) or Hornby Hall in Brougham (Westmorland). The North Yorkshire placenames probably derive from the Old Norse personal name Horni + Old Norse bȳ ‘farmstead village’ while the Lancashire and Westmorland placenames probably derive from Old Norse horn ‘horn-shaped piece of land river bend’ + bȳ.
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Source : DAFN2 : Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, ©2022 by Patrick Hanks and Oxford University Press
FANBI : The Oxford Dictionary if Family Names in Britain and Ireland, ©2016, University of the West of England
FANBI : The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain, ©2021, University of the West of England
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