Hall


Select Hall Surname Genealogy

The name could be locational or occupational; one who lived by a hall; or one who worked in a hall (perhaps as a servant).  Hall comes from the Old Norse holl, a spacious residence.  It has been suggested that Hall was a family name with a meaning of "kind" or "forgiving" - from the belief that Viking thanes were eternally benevolent to those who lived within his hall. 

The name cropped up in different parts of the country, probably from different roots.

Select Hall Resources on The Internet

England.  The surname Hall is said to have originated in Lincolnshire in 1090 when Arthur Fitzwilliam changed his name to Arthur Hall to distinguish himself from his elder brother of the same name.  Their home in the 16th century was Greatford Hall in Lincolnshire.  Thomas Halle (or la Sale) lived in the 14th century and was the forebear of the Hall family of Bradford-on-Avon in Wiltshire.

There was also a Hall family on the Scots/English borders, in Redesdale, one of the many families in that region called "reivers" because of their marauding activity.  More Halls lived in the north of England, according to the 19th century distribution of the Hall name.

Scotland.  The Hall name also extended to Scotland and to the Scottish valleys of Teviotdale and Liddesdale.  Andrew Hall was a merchant in Kirkudbright in the late 1500's.  His son John was involved in the drafting of the 1611 King James Bible.  Another Hall family, the Halls of Fulbar in Renfrewshire, also have an old lineage.

Americas.  Most Halls in America are of English origin.  A number came from Ireland and some from Germany and Sweden (where Hall here was probably the anglicized name of a German or Swedish name).  There has been one notable Hall family in Jamaica.  The first of this family that has been traced is John Hall, born in 1722 and the original records are those that were kept by his wife, Allegonda Boom.

Select Hall Names

Charles Hall was an early American explorer of the Arctic.
Wes Hall was a great fast bowler in the West Indian cricket team of the 1960's.
Sir Peter Hall
is a well-known English theatre and film director.

Select Halls Today

  • 130,000 in the UK (most numerous in Essex)
  • 153,000 in America (most numerous in Texas)
  • 66,000 elsewhere (most numerous in Australia)

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For other surnames check the companion selectsurname.com site where there are to be found the history and genealogy for more than 500 surnames.

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