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Show ContentsHale History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
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Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

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The name Hale is an old Anglo-Saxon name. It comes from when a family lived in a remote valley, or nook. Checking further we found the name was derived from the Old English halh, which had the same meaning. Conversely the name could have been a nickname for someone who was "healthy, stout, a brave man, chief, or hero" having derived from the Anglo-Saxon word "hale." 1

Early Origins of the Hale family

The surname Hale was first found in Cheshire, but there are other records of this local name throughout England. Parish named Hales were found in Stafford, Norfolk and Worcester. Norfolk's earliest reference was Alexander de Hales, who was listed there in 1245. 2

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 lists: Richard de la Hale in Oxfordshire; and Walter en le Hale in Sussex at that time. Robert in the Hale was listed in the Close Roll, temp. 2 Edward I and according to Kirby's Quest, John atte Hale was listed in Somerset, temp. 1 Edward III 3 4

Alexander of Hales (d. 1245), the celebrated theologian, and one of the first of the Christian Philosophers of the thirteenth century, was born in Gloucestershire at a town or village called Hales. 5

Thomas Hales (fl. 1250), was an early English poet and religious writer, was a Franciscan friar, and presumably a native of Hales (or Hailes) in Gloucestershire. 5

The name quickly became native to Scotland as seen by Michel de Hale del counte de Edeneberk who rendered homage to King Edward I in his brief conquest of Scotland in 1296. 6

Later some of the family were found at Kings Walden in Hertfordshire. "On the north side of the chancel of the church is a chapel, the burial-place of the Hale family, erected by William Hale, who died in 1648." 7

Hailes Castle is a 14th century castle about a mile and a half south west of East Linton, East Lothian, Scotland. It dates back to c. 1300. Hailes Abbey near Winchcombe in Gloucestershire was built in 1245 or 1246 but little remains of the abbey today.

Early History of the Hale family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hale research. Another 112 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1189, 1325, 1331, 1379, 1381, 1394, 1455, 1456, 1457, 1459, 1470, 1471, 1490, 1516, 1540, 1572, 1576, 1584, 1608, 1609, 1614, 1625, 1626, 1636, 1640, 1645, 1654, 1656, 1660, 1661, 1666, 1676, 1677, 1679, 1681, 1684, 1691, 1692, 1694, 1700, 1729, 1762, 1773, 1793, 1812 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Hale History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hale Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years, the English language had no fast system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations are commonly found in early Anglo-Saxon surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Hale were recorded, including Hale, Hail, Hailes, Hayles, Hayle, Hales, Haile and many more.

Early Notables of the Hale family

Notables of the family at this time include

  • Sir Frank Hale
  • Sir Stephen Hales (before 1331-1394), of Testerton, Norfolk, an English soldier and politician
  • John Hales, the medieval Bishop of Exeter (1455-1456)
  • John Hales (also Hals or Halse
  • John Hales (c.1470-1540), of The Dungeon, Canterbury, Kent, an administrator and Baron of the Exchequer
  • John Hales (c.1516-1572), a writer, administrator and politician
  • John Hales (died 1608), the owner of the Whitefriars in Coventry at which two of the Marprelate tracts were printed on a secret press
  • John Hales (1584-1656), an English cleric, theologian and writer, his posthumous works earned him the title of the "Ever-memorable"
  • Sir Edward Hales, 1st Baronet (1576-1654), an English politician, Member of Parliament for Queenborough in 1625 and (1640-1645) and Kent (1626)
  • Sir Edward Hales, 2nd Baronet (1626-c.1684), an English politician, Member of Parliament for Maidstone in 1660 and Queenborough (1661-1681)
  • Sir Thomas Hales, 2nd Baronet (1666-1762), British Member of Parliament
  • Sir Thomas Hales, 3rd Baronet (c. 1694-1762), British Member of Parliament and courtier
  • Sir Matthew Hale (1609-1676), Lord Chief Justice of England
  • John "Reverend Hale" Hale (1636-1700), the pastor of the Church of Christ in Beverly, Massachusetts during the Salem witch hunt in 1692

Hale World Ranking

In the United States, the name Hale is the 296th most popular surname with an estimated 92,019 people with that name. 8 However, in Australia, the name Hale is ranked the 831st most popular surname with an estimated 4,728 people with that name. 9 And in New Zealand, the name Hale is the 483rd popular surname with an estimated 1,411 people with that name. 10 The United Kingdom ranks Hale as 442nd with 14,626 people. 11

Ireland Migration of the Hale family to Ireland

Some of the Hale family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 57 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

United States Hale migration to the United States +

To escape oppression and starvation at that time, many English families left for the "open frontiers" of the New World with all its perceived opportunities. In droves people migrated to the many British colonies, those in North America in particular, paying high rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Although many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, those who did see the shores of North America perceived great opportunities before them. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Research into various historical records revealed some of first members of the Hale family emigrate to North America:

Hale Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Thomas Hale, who landed in Virginia in 1623 aboard the ship "George" 12
  • Mrs. Joan Hale who sailed from Isle of Wight arriving in Salem, Massachusetts in 1630 aboard the ship "Ambrose" as part of the Winthrop Fleet, found in Charlestown. 13
  • Robert Hale who sailed from Isle of Wight arriving in Salem, Massachusetts in 1630 aboard the ship "Ambrose" as part of the Winthrop Fleet 12
  • Jo Hale, aged 14, who arrived in Virginia in 1635 aboard the ship "Globe" 12
  • Barbary Hale, who arrived in Virginia in 1638 12
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Hale Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • James Hale, who landed in Virginia in 1714 12
  • John Hale, who landed in Virginia in 1719 12
  • Jean Hale, who landed in New York in 1725 12
  • Egram Hale, aged 24, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1730 12
  • Sophia Hale, aged 30, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1730 12
Hale Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Robert Hale, who landed in New York, NY in 1815 12
  • Thomas Hale, who arrived in New York, NY in 1816 12
  • Mary Hale, who settled in Portland in 1820
  • Mr. Hale, who landed in Mobile, Ala in 1821 12
  • Michael Hale, who arrived in Mississippi in 1840 12
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada Hale migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Hale Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • David Hale, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1750
  • Robert Hale, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1750

Australia Hale migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Hale Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Samuel Hale, English convict from London, who was transported aboard the "Almorah" on April 1817, settling in New South Wales, Australia 14
  • Mr. William Hale, English convict who was convicted in Wiltshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Chapman" on 6th April 1824, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 15
  • George Hale, a weaver, who arrived in Van Diemen’s Land (now Tasmania) sometime between 1825 and 1832
  • Mr. James Hale, English convict who was convicted in Wiltshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Eliza" on 2nd February 1831, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 16
  • Mr. William Hale, English convict who was convicted in Gloucester, Gloucestershire, England for life, transported aboard the "Camden" on 21st September 1832, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 17
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Hale migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Hale Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • William Henry Hale, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840
  • Mrs. Eliza Hale, British settler travelling from Gravesend, UK aboard the ship "Bernica" en route to Otago via passenger disembarked at Nelson, South Island, New Zealand in December 1848 18
  • Miss Eliza Hale, British settler travelling from Gravesend, UK aboard the ship "Bernica" en route to Otago via passenger disembarked at Nelson, South Island, New Zealand in December 1848 18
  • Miss Emily Hale, British settler travelling from Gravesend, UK aboard the ship "Bernica" en route to Otago via passenger disembarked at Nelson, South Island, New Zealand in December 1848 18
  • Mr. William Hale, British settler travelling from Gravesend, UK aboard the ship "Bernica" en route to Otago via passenger disembarked at Nelson, South Island, New Zealand in December 1848 18
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Hale (post 1700) +

  • Robert Hale (1933-2023), American bass-baritone opera singer, born in Texas
  • Carol Leon Hale (1921-2021), American journalist and author for the Houston Chronicle from 1984 until his retirement in 2014
  • Albert A. Hale (d. 2021), American attorney and a Democratic politician, Member of the Arizona House of Representatives (2013-2017)
  • Sunset "Sunny" Hale (1968-2017), American professional polo player, member of the 2000 winning team in the U.S. Open Polo Championship, inducted into the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame Fame in 2012
  • Barbara Hale (1922-2017), American Emmy Award winning actress, best known for her role as legal secretary Della Street on more than 270 episodes of the Perry Mason television series
  • Anthony "Tony" Hale (b. 1970), American Primetime Emmy Award winning actor, best known for his role in the Fox comedy series Arrested Development
  • Lieutenant-General Willis Henry Hale (1893-1961), American Commanding General of the Continental Air Command, Mitchel AFB, New York (1950-1952) 19
  • Ruth Hale (1908-2003), American playwright and actress, grandmother of Kurt Hale
  • Robert S. Hale (1822-1881), U.S. Representative from New York
  • Daniel Hale (d. 1821), American Secretary of State of New York, 1798-1801 and 1810-1811
  • ... (Another 10 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Halifax Explosion
  • Mrs. Frances R.  Hale (1878-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 20
HMS Cornwall
  • Henry Francis Ormsby Hale, British Lieutenant Commander aboard the HMS Cornwall (1942) when she was struck by air bombers and sunk; he survived the sinking 21
HMS Dorsetshire
  • William Glyndwr Hale (d. 1945), British Stoker 1st Class aboard the HMS Dorsetshire when she was struck by air bombers and sunk; he died in the sinking 22
RMS Lusitania
  • Miss Sarah Rachel Sadie Hale, (née Orr ), Irish Typist from Belfast, Ireland, who worked aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking and was recovered 23
RMS Titanic
  • Mr. Reginald Hale (d. 1912), aged 30, American Second Class passenger from Auburn, New York who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking and was recovered by CS Mackay-Bennett 24

The Hale Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Cum principibus
Motto Translation: Whith my chiefs

Suggested Readings for the name Hale +

  • Descendants From First Families of Virginia and Maryland: A Family History and Genealogy Covering 350 Years, 1620-1970 by Maude Crowe.
  • Spanning the Centuries With the Hale Family by Muriel Nadine Hale Lynch.
  1. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  2. Rye, Walter, A History of Norfolk. London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, 1885. Print
  3. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  4. Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
  5. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
  6. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
  7. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  8. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  9. "Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
  10. "Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
  11. "UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
  12. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  13. Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's. Retrieved January 6th 2023 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
  14. State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Almorah voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1817 with 180 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/almorah/1817
  15. Convict Records of Australia. Retreived 26th January 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/chapman
  16. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 28th February 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/eliza
  17. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 2nd December 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/camden
  18. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  19. Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2011, October 22) Willis Hale. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Hale/Willis_Henry/USA.html
  20. Halifax Explosion Book of Remembrance | Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. (Retrieved 2014, June 23) . Retrieved from https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/halifax-explosion/halifax-explosion-book-remembrance
  21. Force Z Survivors Crew List HMS Cornwall (Retrieved 2018, February 13th) - Retrieved from https://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listcornwallcrew.html#A
  22. Force Z Survivors HMS Dorsetshire Crew List, (Retrieved 2018, February 13th), https://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listdorsetshirecrew.html
  23. Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 10) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/
  24. Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html
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