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![Show Contents]() Halsal History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
Etymology of HalsalWhat does the name Halsal mean? Today's generation of the Halsal family bears a name that was brought to England by the migration wave that was started by the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Halsal family lived in Lancashire, as Lords of the Manor of Halsall. Early Origins of the Halsal familyThe surname Halsal was first found in Lancashire where they held a family seat as Lords of the manor of Halsall. At the time of the taking of the Domesday Book in 1086 the village of Halsall was held by Count Roger de Poitou, a Norman noble who was Earl of Lancaster, and conjecturally the Halsalls are descended from this line. "The manor [of Birkdale, Lancashire], in the reign of Henry IV., was held by the Halsalls." 1 Unfortunately, by the 17th century the manor was passed on to other families. Perhaps this entry will shed some light into the lost manor. "By this time there had probably been an infeudation in favour of the Halsall family. In 1346, the fourth part of a knight's fee in Argar Meols was held by Otes de Halsall; he rendered 10s [(shillings)], but it was stated that the place 'had been annihilated by the sea and there was no habitation there.' From an inquisition taken in 1404, it appears that the manors of Argar Meols and Birkdale had been held by Otes' father, Gilbert, so that the transfer from the old lords to the new must have taken place about 1320. " 2 Early History of the Halsal familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Halsal research. Another 157 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1548 and 1599 are included under the topic Early Halsal History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Halsal Spelling VariationsBefore English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, Norman French and other languages became incorporated into English throughout the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Halsal include Hallsall, Halsall, Halshall, Hawshall, Halsell, Hallsell and many more. Early Notables of the Halsal familyOutstanding amongst the family at this time was Migration of the Halsal family to IrelandSome of the Halsal family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Halsal familyIn England at this time, the uncertainty of the political and religious environment of the time caused many families to board ships for distant British colonies in the hopes of finding land and opportunity, and escaping persecution. The voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, though, and many arrived in North America sick, starved, and destitute. Those who did make it, however, were greeted with greater opportunities and freedoms that they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make important contributions to the young nations in which they settled. Early immigration records have shown some of the first Halsals to arrive on North American shores: James Halsall landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1844.
- Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
- 'Townships: Scarisbrick', in A History of the County of Lancaster: Volume 3, ed. William Farrer and J Brownbill (London, 1907), pp. 265-276. British History Online http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/lancs/vol3/pp265-276 [accessed 21 January 2017].
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