Show ContentsHal History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The distinguished German surname Hal is derived from the Old High German "halla," meaning "hall" or "manor." This name was probably originally borne either by someone who lived near a large house, or by someone who was employed at a hall or manor.

Early Origins of the Hal family

The surname Hal was first found in Baden, where the family was anciently associated with the tribal conflicts of the area. They declared allegiances to many nobles and princes of early history, lending their influence in struggles for power and status within the region. They branched into many houses, and their contributions were sought by many leaders in their search for power.

Early History of the Hal family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hal research. Another 112 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1632, 1721, 1731, 1790 and 1814 are included under the topic Early Hal History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hal Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Hall, Halland, Hallandsfar, Hallay, Hallberg, Halle, Hallegg, Hallenaut, Haller, Hallermund, Hallersdorf, Hallerstein, Halletius, Halleux, Hallez, Hallmann and many more.

Early Notables of the Hal family

Notables with the surname Hal during this period were

  • the Hall family of Baden

Migration of the Hal family

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: Egram Hall, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1730; Christian Henr. Hall, one of the Hessian troops in the American War for Independence who settled in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1781.


Contemporary Notables of the name Hal (post 1700) +

  • James Hal Cone (1936-2018), American theologian from Fordyce, Arkansas, an advocat of black theology and black liberation theology
  • Herbert Hal Reynolds (1930-2007), American academic, President of Baylor University from 1981 to 1995
  • Kevin Hal Reynolds (b. 1952), American film director and screenwriter
  • William Hal Ashby (1929-1988), American film director and film editor
  • J Hal Deatherage, American Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Tennessee
  • Conrad Hal Waddington (1905-1975), British biologist who developed the theory of epigenesis
  • G. Hal Manahan (b. 1886), American Republican politician, Gas and oil dealer; Chair of Elkhart County Republican Party, 1942-44 1
  • Hal Linden (b. 1931), American seven-time Primetime Emmy Award and three-time Golden Globe Award nominated stage and screen actor, television director and musician, best known role in the television comedy series Barney Miller
  • Hal Buell (1931-2024), American photographer
  • Hal Kanter (1918-2011), American writer, director and actor, executive producer on the TV show 'All in the Family' and head writer for 'Bob Hope'


  1. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 8) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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