Show ContentsHeadlee History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Anglo-Saxon name Headlee comes from when the family resided in one of a variety of similarly-named places. Headley in Hampshire is the oldest. The surname Headlee belongs to the large category of Anglo-Saxon habitation names, which are derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads.

Early Origins of the Headlee family

The surname Headlee was first found in Shropshire and Hampshire. One of the first records of the name was Siward de Hedeleia who was listed in 1148, in Winton, Hampshire. Stephen de Hedleye was listed the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327. 1 The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 list Alan de Hedleg, and Nicholas de Heddeleg in Shropshire and the Yorkshire Poll Tax Records of 1379 list Willelmus de Hedlay and Margareta de Hedelay. 2

Early History of the Headlee family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Headlee research. Another 173 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1273 and 1832 are included under the topic Early Headlee History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Headlee Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, French and other languages became incorporated into English through the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Headlee include Headley, Heggeley, Headly, Hedley, Hedly, Hedlegg, Hedleigh, Headlee, Headleigh, Hegeley and many more.

Early Notables of the Headlee family

More information is included under the topic Early Headlee Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Headlee family

A great wave of immigration to the New World was the result of the enormous political and religious disarray that struck England at that time. Families left for the New World in extremely large numbers. The long journey was the end of many immigrants and many more arrived sick and starving. Still, those who made it were rewarded with an opportunity far greater than they had known at home in England. These emigrant families went on to make significant contributions to these emerging colonies in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers carried this name or one of its variants: Edward and Theo Hedley, who settled in Bermuda in 1635; Will Headly settled in Georgia in 1734; John Headley settled in Maryland in 1722; John, Edward, and Jacob Headley arrived in Philadelphia between 1840 and 1865..


Contemporary Notables of the name Headlee (post 1700) +

  • Richard Harold Headlee (1930-2004), American politician, author of the Headlee Amendment
  • Russell E. Headlee (1907-1987), American politician, former Democratic member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
  • Thomas Edwin Headlee (1867-1929), American Democratic Party politician, Mayor of Everett, Washington, 1904-06 3
  • Howard Headlee, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Utah, 2008 3
  • Frank Headlee, American politician, Mayor of Searcy, Arkansas, 1952-55 3


  1. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  2. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  3. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 7) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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