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![Show Contents]() Shal History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 Germany
The Shal family name comes from the from Middle High German word "schal," which means "noise," or "bragging," and as such is was thought to have originally been a nickname for a braggart, or for a market crier. The German people originally used only one name, but as the population grew there was often confusion between people of the same name. This required people to adopt hereditary surnames. Many people took surnames based on nicknames - sometimes known as eke-names - that described certain personal characteristics. Early Origins of the Shal familyThe surname Shal was first found in the ancient Rhineland, where this family name became associated with a notable aristocratic line of the city of Cologne. Always prominent in social affairs, the name became an integral part of that turbulent region as it emerged to form alliances with other families within the Feudal System and the nation. Chronicles mention one Robert Schallo as early as 1150. Early History of the Shal familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Shal research. Another 148 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1387, 1592, 1666, 1745 and 1815 are included under the topic Early Shal History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Shal Spelling VariationsOne can encounter great variation in the spelling of surnames: in early times, spelling in general, and thus the spelling of names was not yet standardized; and later, spellings would change with branching and movement of families. Variations of the name Shal include Schall, Schaal, Schal, Schaell, Schael, Schalle, Schaller, Schallin and many more. Early Notables of the Shal familyMore information is included under the topic Early Shal Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Shal familyHundreds of thousands of Europeans, including many Rhinelanders, made the voyage to North America between the 17th and 20th centuries. It was an escape from religious persecution and poverty and also an opportunity for people to start over and own their own land. Most landed at Ellis Island, off New York before moving on to the states of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Texas, Illinois, and California. Some also landed in Canada and settled in Ontario, while others headed west to the prairie provinces. A study of passenger and immigration lists has shown a number of people bearing the name of Shal, or one of its variants, reaching North America shores very early: Simon Schaller, who came to Philadelphia in 1728; Carl Schallin, who came to Philadelphia in 1739; Johan Albrecht Schaller, who came to Philadelphia in 1737.
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