Show ContentsHullse History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Hullse is an ancient Anglo-Saxon surname that came from the personal name Hull. 1

Alternatively the name could have been derived from Hull, an important seaport town in East Riding of Yorkshire. 2

Early Origins of the Hullse family

The surname Hullse was first found in the Yorkshire at Kingston upon Hull, more commonly known as Hull, a city in the East Riding of Yorkshire. The place is derived from the River Hull and dates back to at least 1228 3 and is home to the largest parish church in England dating back to 1285. In 1642, it was the scene of the first skirmish of the English Civil War when on orders of Parliament, the Governor of Hull, Sir John Hotham (d. 1645), shut the gates of the town to King Charles I. 4

Early feudal rolls provided the king of the time with a method of cataloguing holdings for taxation, but today they provide a glimpse into the many surname spellings in use at that time.

Peter de Hull was listed in the Assize Rolls for Staffordshire in 1199; John atte Hulle was listed in 1297; Robert in the hull was found in the Subsidy Rolls for Derbyshire in 1327; Henry and Simon Hulle were found in Yorkshire in 1309 and in Colchester in 1312; and John Hull was in the Subsidy Rolls for Cumbria (Cumberland) in 1332. 1

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 include: Elyas de la Hulle in Wiltshire; and Gunnilda de la Hull and Roger a Hull, who were both listed in Oxfordshire at that time. 2

In Somerset, Leticia atte Hulle was listed 1 Edward III (in the first year of King Edward III's reign.) 5

Later, the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 included Elena de Hull and Robertas Hall. 2

Early History of the Hullse family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hullse research. Another 71 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1399, 1408, 1415, 1425, 1595, 1624, 1635, 1665, 1683, 1699, 1736, 1737 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Hullse History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hullse Spelling Variations

The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries; therefore,spelling variations are common among early Anglo-Saxon names. As the form of the English language changed, even the spelling of literate people's names evolved. Hullse has been recorded under many different variations, including Hull, Hulle, Hulls and others.

Early Notables of the Hullse family

Notables of this surname at this time include: Robert Hull or Hill (d. 1425), English judge, perhaps born at Heligan, Cornwall. "In 1399 he was king's serjeant, and was called on for a 'loan' of 100l. to aid the king against the Welsh and Scotch. On 14 May 1408, he was appointed a judge of the common pleas, and in 1415 he was one of the judges who tried Richard, earl of Cambridge, Henry, lord Scrope, and Sir Thomas Grey at Southampton for treason. " 6 Reverend Joseph Hull (1595-1665), was an English preacher from Devon who led a company of 106...
Another 193 words (14 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Hullse Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Hullse family to Ireland

Some of the Hullse family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 78 words (6 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 Hullse family

For many English families, the political and religious disarray that shrouded England made the far away New World an attractive prospect. On cramped disease-ridden ships, thousands migrated to those British colonies that would eventually become Canada and the United States. Those hardy settlers that survived the journey often went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Hullse or a variant listed above: Joseph Hull with his wife Agnes settled in New England in 1635 with seven children; Elizabeth and George Hull settled in Nantasket in 1630; Joseph Hull settled with his wife, seven children, and three servants, in Massachusetts in 1635..



  1. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  2. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  3. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  4. Winn, Christopher, I Never Knew that about Yorkshire. Croydon: The Random House Group Limited, 2010. Print. (ISBN 978-0-09-193313-5)
  5. 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.
  6. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print


Houseofnames.com on Facebook