Hunlay History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The name Hunlay is of Anglo-Saxon origin and came from when the family lived in the settlements of High Hunsley and Low Hunsley in the East Riding of Yorkshire. 1 The surname Hunlay 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 Hunlay family

The surname Hunlay was first found in Yorkshire, at High Hunsley, a small hamlet in the East Riding of Yorkshire. The village dates back to the Domesday Book 2 where it was recorded as Hund(r)eslege and meant "woodland clearing of a man called Hund" 3 "This place appears to have been anciently of more importance than it is at present, many foundations of buildings having been dug up at various times. Upon a hill here, was a beacon that gave name to the largest division of the wapentake." 4

Early History of the Hunlay family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hunlay research. Another 45 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Hunlay History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hunlay 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 Hunlay 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 Hunlay include: Hunsley, Hunsly, Hunley, Hunly, Hundsley, Hundsly and others.

Early Notables of the Hunlay family

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

Migration of the Hunlay 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 Hunlay or a variant listed above: William Hunsley, who sailed to America in 1753.

Citations +

Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
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)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.