Show ContentsHailason History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Hailason surname finds its earliest origins with the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. Their name is derived from the pet-name "Alice" as in "the son of Alice." One source claims that name was in fact, Norman having derived from "Bernard de Alençon who held several lordships from Hervey de Bourges, Suffolk, belonged to the family of the Counts of Alençon, descended from Ivo or Belesme, c. 940. " 1

The phonetic resemblance of the name Alençon and the name Hailason is apparent, but no other sources confirmed this ancient heritage. Of note was Alisoun (Alison) who appears in Chaucer's "Miller's Tale" c. 1386, as John's younger wife. 2

Early Origins of the Hailason family

The surname Hailason was first found in various counties and shires throughout Britain. Some of the earliest listing include those listed in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273: Richard filius Alice in Oxfordshire; Nicholas filius Alicie in Cambridgeshire; and Isabel filius Alice in Oxfordshire. The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls list Johannes Alysson in 1379. 3

Early History of the Hailason family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hailason research. Another 176 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1332, 1447, 1455, 1487, 1510, 1536, 1560, 1592, 1599, 1600, 1610, 1617, 1618, 1697, 1698 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Hailason History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hailason 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 Hailason 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 Hailason include: Allyson, Allison, Allisson, Allysson, Alesson and many more.

Early Notables of the Hailason family

Distinguished members of the family include Richard Allison (ca. 1560-1610), an English composer, best known for his de la Tromba, a broken consort piece. His name first occurs as a contributor to T. Este's 'Whole Booke of Psalms,' 1592. A few years later he published on his own account 'The Psalmes of David in Meter,' 1599, a collection of old church tunes harmonised by himself in four parts. 4Thomas Allison (fl. 1697), was an Arctic voyager, "of whose personal history we have no record beyond what is to be gleaned from a journal of one of his voyages afterwards published. While...
Another 147 words (10 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Hailason Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Hailason family to Ireland

Some of the Hailason family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 57 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Hailason 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 Hailason or a variant listed above: George Allyson who settled in Virginia in 1662; Sarah Allyson who settled in Virginia in 1656; Andrew Allison who settled in Philadelphia in 1750 with his two brothers named James and Robert.



  1. The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
  2. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  3. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  4. Grove, Sir George, A Dictionary of Music and Musicians (AD. 1450-1889) London: Macmillan1902, Print, 2 Vols


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