Contents [hide]

Hastings History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Ireland United States Canada Australia New Zealand West Indies

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Citations

Hastings History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland
Ireland
England

The Hastings family claim the land of colorful tartans and skirling bagpipes as their ancient homeland. In Scotland, hereditary surnames were adopted according to fairly general rules and during the late Middle Ages, names that were derived from localities became increasingly widespread. Local names originally denoted the proprietorship of the village or estate. The Norman knight Robert of Hastings distinguished himself at the Battle of Hastings and was granted the town of Hastings by William the Conqueror as reward.

Early Origins of the Hastings family

The surname Hastings was first found in Sussex, where the family were descended from Robert of (de) Hastings, who having assisted William the Conqueror at the Battle of Hastings, was given the town of Hastings in gratitude. He became Mayor of Hastings. 1

Another branch that some claim to be older, was found at Fillongley in Warwickshire. "This place, the name of which is variously written in Domesday Book, is supposed to have been the earliest seat of the rich and powerful family of Hastings, who held many offices of distinction during several reigns." 2

Another source confirms the Warwickshire entry: "Robert, Steward to William of Normandy, accompanied the expedition to England, and was rewarded with the Lordship of Fillongley, Co. Warwick. He received also the appointment of Portgrave of Hastings, and thence arose a surname, which his illustrious descendants rendered renowned in the cabinet and in the field. Robert's successor, Walter de Hastings, became steward to Henry I., as owner of the manor of Ashills, co. Norfolk, which he held on condition of taking charge of the naperie (table linen) at the Coronation. His descendant, Henry de Hastings, Baron Hastings, married Ada, daughter of David, Earl of Huntingdon, and was father of the bold defender of Kenilworth Castle, Henry, Lord Hastings, whose grandson, John Hastings, seneschal of Aquitaine, was one of the aspirants to the Scottish throne, A.D. 1290, in right of his great grandmother, Ada, who was niece to William the Lion. " 3

Henry de Hastings (c.1235-c.1269) was created Baron in 1264 by Simon de Montfort. He led the Londoners at the Battle of Lewes. His son John Hastings, 1st Baron Hastings (1262-1313) fought in the 1290s wars in the Scotland, Ireland and France under King Edward I. His son, John Hastings, 2nd Baron Hastings (1287-1325) served in the First War of Scottish Independence under King Edward II and later became Governor of Kenilworth Castle.

"Sir William Hastings, created Baron Hastings by Edward IV., and who was beheaded by Richard III., built a strong castle [in Ashby-De-La-Zouch in Leicestershire] in the reign of the former monarch, in which Mary, Queen of Scots, while in the custody of the Earl of Huntingdon, was for some time kept in confinement. Ashby Castle was garrisoned for his majesty by the earl's second son, Col. Henry Hastings, who was made general of the king's forces in the midland counties, and, for his services to the royal cause, was in 1643 created Baron Loughborough." 2

Again in England, another early record was found at Aston-Cantlow in Warwickshire. "John de Hastings, into whose possession it had come, claimed by prescription, in the 13th of Edward I., a court leet, with assize of bread and beer, weifs, gallows, and free warren, all which were allowed." 2

We found this rather unpleasant entry for one Simon Hastings in Torquay, Devonshire: "William Norton, was charged, in 1390, with having abused his powers as lord of the manor by cutting off the head of a canon named Hastings. The canon was produced in the flesh to satisfy Bishop Brantyngham that he was not dead ; and the Bishop took him at his word. Other people, however, were not so easily satisfied ; and therefore to this day the headless ghost of Simon Hastings makes hideous the dull November nights by galloping a spectral horse through Torre avenues." 4

Early History of the Hastings family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hastings research. Another 73 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1178, 1298, 1389, 1431, 1461, 1466, 1483, 1488, 1506, 1514, 1540, 1544, 1560, 1561, 1586, 1595, 1604, 1609, 1610, 1625, 1628, 1629, 1643, 1650, 1656, 1667, 1686, 1687, 1688, 1689, 1696, 1701, 1720, 1721 and 1746 are included under the topic Early Hastings History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hastings Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Hastings, Hasting, Haistings and others.

Early Notables of the Hastings family

Notable among the family at this time was

William Hastings, 1st Baron Hastings KG (c.1431-1483), an English nobleman executed on the charge of treason
Edward Hastings, 2nd Baron Hastings, KB (1466-1506), an English peer
George Hastings, 1st Earl of Huntingdon (1488-1544), English nobleman
Francis Hastings, 2nd Earl of Huntingdon, KG (1514-1561), English nobleman
Sir George Hastings, 4th Earl of Huntingdon (1540-1604), an English nobleman
Francis Hastings, Lord Hastings (1560-1595), English nobleman
Henry Hastings, 5th Earl of Huntingdon (1586-1643), a prominent English nobleman and literary patron
Ferdinando Hastings, 6th Earl of Huntingdon (1609-1656), MP for Leicestershire in 1625 and again in 1628-1629
Henry Hastings, 1st Baron Loughborough (1610-1667), English Royalist army commander in the Midlands during the English Civil War

Hastings Ranking

In the United States, the name Hastings is the 1,119^th most popular surname with an estimated 27,357 people with that name. 5

Migration of the Hastings family to Ireland

Some of the Hastings 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.

Hastings migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Hastings Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Thomas Hastings (c.1605-1685), English immigrant from Ipswich, Suffolk who sailed aboard The Elizabeth to Watertown, Massachusetts in 1634
Mrs. Susan Hastkings, (Susanna), (1600 - 1650), aged 34, who arrived in New England in 1634 aboard the ship "Elizabeth", found in Watertown with husband Thomas Hastings. 6
Edward Hastings, who settled in the Island of Providence in 1635
William Hastings, who landed in Virginia in 1636 7
Walter Hastings, who arrived in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1659 7
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Hastings Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Judith Hastings, who landed in Virginia in 1700 7
Thomas Hastings, who arrived in America in 1796 7

Hastings Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

John Hastings, who landed in America in 1803 7
Bryan Hastings, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1811 7
Alexander Hastings, aged 33, who arrived in New York in 1812 7
Robert Hastings, who arrived in America in 1812 7
James Hastings, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1838 7
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Hastings Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Joseph Hastings, who arrived in Mobile, Ala in 1904 7

Hastings migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Hastings Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Robert Hastings, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1749

Hastings Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Robert Hastings, aged 25, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Ranger" in 1834
Isabella Hastings, aged 20, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Ranger" in 1834
Fanny Hastings, aged 23, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Ranger" in 1834
Mary Hastings, aged 16, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Ranger" in 1834
Sarah Hastings, aged 18, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Ranger" in 1834
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Hastings migration to Australia +

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

Hastings Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. George Hastings, British Convict who was convicted in Wiltshire, England for life, transported aboard the "Coromandel" on 4th December 1803, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 8
Mr. Benjamin Hastings, English convict who was convicted in London, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Fanny" on 25th August 1815, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 9
Mr. Thomas Hastings, English convict who was convicted in Surrey, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Eliza" on 22nd September 1819, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 10
Mr. Robert Hastings, English convict who was convicted in Bristol, England for life, transported aboard the "Claudine" on 19th August 1829, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 11
William Hastings, English convict from Middlesex, who was transported aboard the "Andromeda" on November 13, 1832, settling in New South Wales, Australia 12
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Hastings 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:

Hastings Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Sarah Hastings, aged 25, a domestic servant, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Oliver Lang" in 1856
Mr. Hastings, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Solent" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 30th July 1857 13
John Hastings, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Queen of the Avon" in 1859
Elizabeth Hastings, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Queen of the Avon" in 1859
Miss Susan Hastings, Scottish settler travelling from Glasgow aboard the ship "Black Eagle" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 19th November 1861 14
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Hastings migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 15

Hastings Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

Edward Hastings, aged 23, who arrived in Barbados in 1635 7

Contemporary Notables of the name Hastings (post 1700) +

Alcee Lamar Hastings (1936-2021), American politician and jurist, Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Florida (1993-2021)
Robert "Bob" Hastings (1925-2014), American radio, film, and television character actor, best known for his roles in McHale's Navy and All in the Family
Michael Mahon Hastings (1980-2013), American journalist, best known for his Rolling Stone article named "The Runaway General"
Major Gen Kester Lovejoy Hastings (1897-1983), Quartermaster of the U.S. Army
Wilmot Reed Hastings Jr. (b. 1960), American entrepreneur and education philanthropist, founder and CEO of Netflix
Smith H. Hastings (1843-1905), Union Colonel in the American Civil War, Medal of Honor recipient
Private First Class Joe R Hastings, American soldier awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor in 1945
Sir Charles Hastings (1794-1866), English founder of the British Medical Association, sixth son of James Hastings, rector of Martley, Worcestershire, born at Ludlow on 11 Jan. 1794 16
Ms. Josephine Wendy Stella Hastings M.B.E., British Volunteer, was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire on 29th December 2018 for voluntary service to Disadvantaged People in Chogoria, Kenya 17
Mr. David Robert Hastings M.B.E., British former Chief Executive for Strathleven Regeneration Community Interest Company, was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire on 29th December 2018 for services to Economic Regeneration in West Dunbartonshire 17
... (Another 6 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Hastings family +

HMS Royal Oak

A. Hastings, British Engine Room Artificer 5th Class with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he survived the sinking 18

North Sea Flood

Joseph Hastings, British traveler aboard the ferry "Princess Victoria" who survived the North Sea Flood, a major storm surge in 1953

RMS Lusitania

Mrs. Margaret Anderson Hastings, (née Gardiner), Irish 2nd Class passenger residing in New Rochelle, New York, USA returning to Ireland, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking 19

Citations +

Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Burke, John Bernard, The Roll of Battle Abbey. London: Edward Churton, 26, Holles Street, 1848, Print.
Worth, R.N., A History of Devonshire London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, E.G., 1895. Digital
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's Retrieved January 6th 2023, retrieved from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
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)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 22nd March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/coromandel-and-experiment
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 28th September 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/fairlie
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 10th February 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/eliza
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 18th February 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/claudine
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2014, November 27) Andromeda voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1832 with 186 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/andromeda/1832
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
Wikisource contributors. "Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900." Wikisource . Wikisource , 4 Jun. 2018. Web. 30 June 2020
"Birthday and New Year Honours Lists (1940 to 2019)." Issue 62507, 28 December 2018 | London Gazette, The Gazette, Dec. 2018, www.thegazette.co.uk/honours-lists
Ships hit by U-boats crew list HMS Royal Oak (08) - (Retrieved 2018 February, 9th) - retrieved from https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship68.html
Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 7) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/