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![Show Contents]() Hedlay History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 England
In ancient Anglo-Saxon England, the ancestors of the Hedlay surname lived in one of a variety of similarly-named places. Headley in Hampshire is the oldest. The surname Hedlay belongs to the large category of Anglo-Saxon habitation names, which are derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads. Early Origins of the Hedlay familyThe surname Hedlay was first found in Shropshire and Hampshire. One of the first records of the name was Siward de Hedeleia who was listed in 1148, in Winton, Hampshire. Stephen de Hedleye was listed the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327. 1 The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 list Alan de Hedleg, and Nicholas de Heddeleg in Shropshire and the Yorkshire Poll Tax Records of 1379 list Willelmus de Hedlay and Margareta de Hedelay. 2 Early History of the Hedlay familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hedlay research. Another 173 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1273 and 1832 are included under the topic Early Hedlay History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Hedlay Spelling VariationsIt is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Hedlay 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 Hedlay include: Headley, Heggeley, Headly, Hedley, Hedly, Hedlegg, Hedleigh, Headlee, Headleigh, Hegeley and many more. Early Notables of the Hedlay familyMore information is included under the topic Early Hedlay Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Hedlay familyMany 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 Hedlay or a variant listed above: Edward and Theo Hedley, who settled in Bermuda in 1635; Will Headly settled in Georgia in 1734; John Headley settled in Maryland in 1722; John, Edward, and Jacob Headley arrived in Philadelphia between 1840 and 1865..
- Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
- Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
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