Show ContentsHaight History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The distinguished and ancient surname Haight is Old English in origin, and traces its history back to the Middle Ages, when the island of Britain was inhabited by the Anglo-Saxons. The name is derived from the Old English "haga" or the Old Norse "hagi," which both mean "dweller by the haw." It is likely that the name was first borne by someone who lived near a hedged field or enclosure. Although now the name is pronounced as a single syllable, it was originally pronounced as two, as can be seen from the spelling “Hag-he”. Most likely, the second syllable was a hard “g” sound; the name was probably pronounced “hah-geh”.

Early Origins of the Haight family

The surname Haight was first found in Yorkshire, where Jollan de Hagh was recorded in 1229. The Scottish branch lived in Bemersyde for many centuries after their arrival in Scotland.

Early History of the Haight family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Haight research. Another 116 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1800, 1861, 1921 and 1928 are included under the topic Early Haight History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Haight Spelling Variations

Although the name, Haight, appeared in many references, from time to time, the surname was shown with the spellings Haig, Haigh, Hague, Hait, Haight, Hate, Haga and others.

Early Notables of the Haight family

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

Haight Ranking

In the United States, the name Haight is the 3,837th most popular surname with an estimated 7,461 people with that name. 1


Haight migration to the United States +

Gradually becoming disenchanted with life in Ireland many of these uprooted families sailed aboard the armada of sailing ships known as the "White Sails" which plied the stormy Atlantic. These overcrowded ships often arrived with only 60 to 70% of their original passenger list, many dying of cholera, typhoid, dysentery or small pox. In North America, some of the first immigrants who could be considered kinsmen of the Haight family name Haight, or who bore a variation of the surname were

Haight Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Simon Haight, who landed in Charlestown, Massachusetts in 1628 2
Haight Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • J N Haight, who arrived in Mobile, Ala in 1822 2
  • R K Haight, aged 45, who landed in Boston, Massachusetts in 1847 2
  • H Haight, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1850 2
  • E Haight, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1851 2
  • L F Haight, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1851 2
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Haight migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Haight Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Allen Haight, who landed in Canada in 1831
  • John D Haight, who arrived in Canada in 1831
  • John G Haight, who landed in Canada in 1831
  • Stephen Haight, who arrived in Canada in 1831
  • Harrison Haight, who arrived in Canada in 1841

Contemporary Notables of the name Haight (post 1700) +

  • Fletcher Mathews Haight (1799-1866), United States federal judge
  • Albert Haight (1842-1926), American lawyer and politician
  • Michael James Haight (b. 1962), former American football offensive lineman
  • Edward Haight (1817-1885), American politician and businessman
  • Henry Haight (1820-1869), American exchange banker and pioneer
  • Charles Coolidge Haight (1841-1917), American architect
  • Charles Haight (1838-1891), American Democratic Party politician
  • David Bruce Haight (1906-2004), oldest member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in the history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
  • Henry Huntly Haight (1825-1878), American politician, the tenth American Governor of California
  • Alan Haight, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Oklahoma, 1956 3
  • ... (Another 28 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)


The Haight Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Sola Virtus Invicta
Motto Translation: Virtue alone is invincible


Suggested Readings for the name Haight +

  • Haight: A Family History of the Descendants of Stephen Haight and Matura Hubbs by Mary Lynch Young.
  • A Genealogical History of Hoyt, Haight, and Hight Families: With Some Account of the Earlier Hyatt Families, A List of the First Settlers of Salisbury and Amesbury, Mass. by David W. Hoyt.

  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  3. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, December 1) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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