Show ContentsHassell History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Hassell family

The surname Hassell was first found in Holland, where the name became noted for its many branches in the region, each house acquiring a status and influence which was envied by the princes of the region. The name was first recorded in Amsterdam, an ancient 13th century town held by the Lords of Amstel. Giesebrecht II built a castle there. Geisbrecht III built the dam to keep out the sea. It is first mentioned in charters of 1275 when Floris IV, the count of Holland granted its charter. It became a city of great mercantile wealth. It hold great treasures of art. In their later history the surname became a power unto themselves and were elevated to the ranks of nobility as they grew into a most influential family.

Early History of the Hassell family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hassell research. Another 88 words (6 lines of text) covering the year 1816 is included under the topic Early Hassell History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hassell Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Hasselt, Hassell, Hasselte, Hassl, Hasseltner, Hasselts and many more.

Early Notables of the Hassell family

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

Hassell Ranking

In the United States, the name Hassell is the 3,897th most popular surname with an estimated 7,461 people with that name. 1


United States Hassell migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Hassell Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • William Hassell, who settled in Virginia in 1635
  • William Hassell, aged 24, who landed in Virginia in 1635 2
  • Mr. William Hassell, (b. 1611), aged 24, British settler traveling aboard the ship "Safety" arriving in Virginia in 1635 3
  • John Hassell, who landed in Ipswich, Massachusetts in 1636 2
  • Richard Hassell, who landed in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1647 2
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Hassell Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Richard Hassell, who settled in New England in 1743
  • Ann Hassell, who arrived in America in 1762
  • Ernst Hassell, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1778 2
Hassell Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Benjn. Hassell, who settled in Philadelphia in 1808
  • Abraham Hassell, who settled in New York, NY in 1823
  • Sampson Hassell, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1823 2
  • Margareth Hassell, aged 26, who arrived in New York in 1854 2
  • Caroline Hassell, aged 8, who arrived in New York in 1854 2
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada Hassell migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Hassell Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Patrick Hassell, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1750

Australia Hassell migration to Australia +

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

Hassell Settlers in Australia in the 18th Century
  • Thomas Hassall (1794-1868) English clergyman, grazier and magistrate, who arrived in Australia with his family in 1798 settling in Camden
Hassell Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Henry Hassell, English convict who was convicted in Surrey, England for life, transported aboard the "Fame" on 9th October 1816, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 4
  • A.H. Hassell, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Senator" in 1849 5
  • William Hassell, aged 32, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1851 aboard the ship "Ascendant" 6
  • William Hassell, aged 32, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "The Ascendant" in 1851 6
  • Pricilla Hassell, aged 31, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "The Ascendant" in 1851 6
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Hassell 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:

Hassell Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Henry Hassell, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "John Scott" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 7th March 1858 7
  • Mrs. Sarah Hassell, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "John Scott" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 7th March 1858 7
  • Mr. J. Hassell, Scottish settler travelling from Glasgow aboard the ship "James Nicol Fleming" arriving in Port Chalmers, Otago, New Zealand on 26th October 1870 7

West Indies Hassell 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. 8
Hassell Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century
  • Ralph and Benjamin Hassell, who settled in Barbados in 1680 with their servants

Contemporary Notables of the name Hassell (post 1700) +

  • Jon Hassell (1937-2021), American trumpet player and composer active since the 1960s, best known for developing the concept of "Fourth World" music
  • Eddie Hassell (1990-2020), American actor who was nominated for the 2006 Young Artist Award
  • George Hassell (1881-1937), American stage and film actor
  • Gerald L. Hassell (b. 1952), American Chairman, CEO and President of The Bank of New York Mellon
  • Trenton Lavar Hassell (b. 1979), American professional NBA basketball forward
  • Leroy R Hassell Sr., American jurist, the first black chief justice of the Virginia Supreme Court
  • S. W. Hassell, American politician 9
  • Richard B. Hassell (1852-1942), American politician, Mayor of Everett, Washington, 1912 9
  • Leo E. Hassell, American politician, Mayor of Okmulgee, Oklahoma, 1952-53 9
  • J. W. Hassell Jr., American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Texas, 1952 9
  • ... (Another 11 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. 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)
  3. Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's. Retrieved October 5th 2021 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
  4. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 27th September 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/fairlie
  5. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) The SENATOR 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849Senator.htm
  6. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) The ASCENDANT 1851. Retrieved http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1851Ascendant.htm
  7. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  8. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
  9. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, April 1) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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