Heslin History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Germany
Ireland

The Heslin family name first began to be used in the German state of Bavaria. After the 12th century, as hereditary surnames began to be adopted, names that were derived from locations became particularly common. The family name Heslin is a local surname. Originally denoting the proprietorship of an estate or influence within a village, the German preposition von, which means from or of, used with local names, was taken as a mark of aristocracy. The surname Heslin was given to someone who lived in Bavaria, where the family was closely identified in early medieval times with the feudal society which would become prominent throughout European history.

Early Origins of the Heslin family

The surname Heslin was first found in Bavaria, where the family was closely identified in early mediaeval times with the feudal society which would become prominent throughout European history. The name would later emerge as a noble family with great influence, having many distinguished branches, and become noted for its involvement in social, economic and political affairs. The name originates from the German word "Hase," meaning rabbit. Chronicles first mention Ruediger Hase in Bavaria in 1173, Henrich Hase, the owner of the inn "zum Hase" in Basel in 1293, and the name Hass appears in Prague in 1363.

Early History of the Heslin family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Heslin research. Another 443 words (32 lines of text) covering the years 1316, 1362, 1421, 1503, 1536, 1684, 1742, 1762, 1774 and 1801 are included under the topic Early Heslin History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Heslin Spelling Variations

Many cultural groups lived in the German states in medieval times. Each had its own dialect and traditions, and unique variations of popular names. Low German, which is similar to contemporary Dutch, was spoken in Westphalia. German names are characterized by additions such as regional suffixes and phrases that tell something about the origin or background of its original bearer. Further contributing to the variation in German names was the fact that there were no spelling rules in medieval times: scribes recorded names according to their sound. The recorded spelling variations of Heslin include Hase, Haase, Haas, Hasse, Hasen, Haass, Haasse, Haasen, Haes, Haese, Haess, Haesse, Heslin, Haeslein and many more.

Early Notables of the Heslin family

Another 43 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Heslin Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Heslin Ranking

In the United States, the name Heslin is the 16,138^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1

Heslin migration to the United States +

The great European flow of migration to North America, which began in the middle of the 17th century and continued into the 20th century, was particularly attractive to those from Bavaria who wished to escape either poverty or religious persecution. For many Bavarian tenant farmers, the chance to own their own land was a major incentive. So the widespread colonization of the United States began in 1650, when many immigrants from Germany settled in pockets in Pennsylvania, Texas, New York, Illinois, and California. In Canada, German settlement centered in Ontario and the prairie provinces. Among those of this surname listed in various historical records were:

Heslin Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Elizabeth Heslin, who settled in Virginia between 1772 and 1775

Heslin Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

A Heslin, who arrived in New Orleans, La in 1845 2
Maria Heslin, who settled in New York State in 1846
Patrick Heslin and his family, who immigrated to New York in 1846
James Heslin, who died in Massachusetts in 1847
Thomas Heslin, who was naturalized in Indiana between 1850 and 1854
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Heslin (post 1700) +

Pat Heslin, American manager of the Department of German at Princeton University
Mindy Heslin, American film and television director, writer, and producer
Dennis A. Heslin, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Massachusetts, 1944 3
Thomas Heslin (1847-1911), Irish-born prelate of the Roman Catholic Church, Bishop of Natchez (1889 until his death)
John Heslin (b. 1992), Irish Gaelic footballer for Westmeath
Peter Heslin Ph.D., Professor in the Dept. of Classics and Ancient History at the University of Durham
Jo-Ann Heslin, well-published nutrition expert

Citations +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
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)
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 6) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html