Hollowel History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Early Origins of the Hollowel family

The surname Hollowel was first found in Northamptonshire at Hollowell, a village and civil parish in the Daventry district of the county which dates back to at least the Domesday Book of 1086 where it was listed as Holewelle. 1 At that time, it was held by the Bishop of Lincoln. The place name literally means "spring or stream in a hollow," having derived from the Old English words hol + wella. 2

The first record of the family was actually in Suffolk where Osbert de Haliwell was recorded in the Pipe Rolls of 1200. Later, the Hundredorum Rolls of 1275 listed Rober Halwewoll in Dorset and Martin de Halgewelle in Devon. Editha atte Holywell was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Somerset in 1327. 3

Another source notes more records in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273: Adam de Holewell, Norfolk; Simon de Holewell, Bedfordshire; John de Holowell, Buckinghamshire; Godfrey de Haliwell, London; and Richard de Holewell, Huntingdonshire. 4

Again in Somerset, we found: John de Holewell; and Edith atte Holywelle, Somerset, 1 Edward III (during the first year of the reign of King Edward III.) 5 This last entry is presumably the same person as the aforementioned Editha atte Holywell but with slightly different spelling.

The Testa de Nevill, sive Liber Feodorum, temp. Henry III-Edward I 6 includes and entry for "William de Halegewelle, Devon, Henry III-Edward I," and the noted author notes: "Probably this last entry represents the Anglo-Saxon halig, holy, pure; later on found as halt or holi. Pure and healthy springs would, no doubt, all over the country take a name after the character of the water, being whole or whole-some, not necessarily sacred or holy, as the word is now understood." 4

Early History of the Hollowel family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hollowel research. Another 75 words (5 lines of text) covering the year 1200 is included under the topic Early Hollowel History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hollowel 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 Hollowel 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. Scribes and monks in the Middle Ages spelled names they sounded, so it is common to find several variations that refer to a single person. The variations of the name Hollowel include: Halliwell, Halligwell, Haliwell, Hollowell and others.

Early Notables of the Hollowel family

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

Migration of the Hollowel 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 Hollowel or a variant listed above: Edward Hollowell, who arrived in Virginia in 1650; Rebecca Hollowell, who received a land grant for Virginia in 1688; Mary Hollowell, a bonded passenger, who arrived in America in 1690.

Citations +

Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
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)
Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
Testa de Nevill or "Liber Feodorum" or "Book of Fees," thought to have been written by Ralph de Nevill, for King John (1199–1216)