Last name: Hall

This ancient surname generally considered to be Anglo-Scottish, has several possible sources. These are that it may be a topographical name for someone who lived at or near a large house called a Hall, or that it could be an occupational name for a person who was employed at such a place. In this case the derivation can be either from the Olde English pre 7th Century word "heall", or the Old German and later Anglo-Saxon "halla", or even the Old Norse-Viking "holl". All have the same meaning of a large house or building. However it can also be a locational surname from any of the places called Hall. These include the villages of Hall in the counties of Lancashire, Carmarthenshire, and Roxburghshire. Early examples of the surname recording taken from surviving rolls and charters include: Nichol del Hall, given as being a "merchant of the duke of Albany" in the year 1400, and William de Hall, who held lands in Irvine, Scotland, in 1426. John Hall, who was born in Kent in 1584, emigrated to New England in 1632, and founded a notable American family. His descendants included Lyman Hall, a signatory of the Declaration of Independence in 1776, Asaph Hall an early astronomer, and Stanley Hall, a pioneer in psychophysics. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Warin de Halla. This was dated 1178, in the "Pipe Rolls" of the county of Essex, during the reign of King Henry 11nd of England, 1154 - 1189. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was sometimes known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

Visitor Comments

Ernest
John Hall was born in Coventry, England [Warwickshire]. His family roots were Scottish and Irish according to DNA testing of a descendant of Wallingford, New Haven, CT.

whoever
that's ausome

Pat
I have just made a genealogical connection to a John Hall of Wallingford, CT. Born 1605, (I'm not sure of birthplace) d 1676 in Wallingford. Would really appreciate any information you may have on the ancestors. He would have been my 7th great grandfather. Hope to hear from you.

Ernest
I am related as well and my daughter just married a Hall from that family.

Caljon Matthews
Although my 2nd gggfather was born in 1798 in Wolford, Warwick, England, I would need to know siblings and a couple of descendants before I could tell if my John is the same as the John you describe. Can you provide a family group sheet? Thanks in advance, Cal

Ernest
No but there is a Wolford in Gloucester as well and there are Halls living there.

Deborah
I was told that my family, quite a while ago, were from Holland. So I was quite pleased to see the Norse Viking reference.

Barb Hall
In southern Germany there is currently a population of families with the name Hall. This name shows up on Catholic church records going back to the 1700s in the samll town of Mundelfingen; my ancestors left for America from there in 1854. A German-speaking American cousin was looking at the town records on a visit and found a reference to a Thomas Hall from Luna (sic) England who moved there in the late 1600s. I ahave not been been able to track this down anywhere. If anyone had input or suggestions, please help me. Many thanks, Barb Hall

Wanda L. Hall
Hello Barb Hall, My late husband father was by the name of Norman Benjamin Hall, born in Halifax Novascoa. And his grandmother was German and spoke no English. His father had one brother (may have been John Hall) also I would think born in the mid 1800s or maybe the last 1700 hundred. Norman Benjamine Hall was a logger in Washington (State). Would like to connect with you since we are having information on these long lost relatives. My name is Mrs. Craig K. Hall. My late husband's middle name is Khayyam. Could there be a possibility of some information. My husband's father was also a Logger in the Washington Sate area years ago. Mrs. Craig K. Hall

Barb Hall
Hall is, as you know, Wanda, an extremely common name. There are English, Irish, and German Hall families. I doubt there is any connection between your husband's family and mine. If you are interested, go on "familysearch" and start looking for public records. You need to start your own genealogical research with the most recent person and sbegin working each generation backwards in time. The US census records may be a good place to start. Good luck.

Ernest Hatton
DNA testing of Hall males indicate that many are not related. This is true of most or surname groups.