Helsey History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The ancestors of the name Helsey date back to the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. The name is derived from when the Helsey family lived in the county of Devon in an area that was near the hazel-trees. Helsey is a topographic surname, which was given to a person who resided near a physical feature such as a hill, stream, church, or type of tree.

Early Origins of the Helsey family

The surname Helsey was first found in Surrey where they held a family seat from very ancient times, some say well before the Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066 A.D.

Early History of the Helsey family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Helsey research. Another 82 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1708, 1839, 1920 and 1927 are included under the topic Early Helsey History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Helsey Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Helsey are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Helsey include: Halsey, Hallsey and others.

Early Notables of the Helsey family

Notables of the family at this time include Sir Thomas Frederick Halsey, 1st Baronet PC (1839-1927), an English politician; and John Halsey (died 1708) was a colonial American privateer and a later pirate who was active in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans during the early 18th century. According to Forbes, he was the eighth highest earning pirate...
Another 57 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Helsey Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Helsey family

Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Helsey or a variant listed above: Thomas Halsey of Geddesden Park settled in Long Island in 1640; John Halsey settled in Boston Mass in 1635 with his brother Richard; George Halsey settled in New England in 1630.

The Helsey 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: Nescit vox missa reverti
Motto Translation: When a word is once spoken it cannot be recalled.