Show ContentsHailes History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Hailes first arose amongst the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. It is derived from their having lived in a remote valley, or nook. Checking further we found the name was derived from the Old English halh, which had the same meaning. Conversely the name could have been a nickname for someone who was "healthy, stout, a brave man, chief, or hero" having derived from the Anglo-Saxon word "hale." 1

Early Origins of the Hailes family

The surname Hailes was first found in Cheshire, but there are other records of this local name throughout England. Parish named Hales were found in Stafford, Norfolk and Worcester. Norfolk's earliest reference was Alexander de Hales, who was listed there in 1245. 2

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 lists: Richard de la Hale in Oxfordshire; and Walter en le Hale in Sussex at that time. Robert in the Hale was listed in the Close Roll, temp. 2 Edward I and according to Kirby's Quest, John atte Hale was listed in Somerset, temp. 1 Edward III 3 4

Alexander of Hales (d. 1245), the celebrated theologian, and one of the first of the Christian Philosophers of the thirteenth century, was born in Gloucestershire at a town or village called Hales. 5

Thomas Hales (fl. 1250), was an early English poet and religious writer, was a Franciscan friar, and presumably a native of Hales (or Hailes) in Gloucestershire. 5

The name quickly became native to Scotland as seen by Michel de Hale del counte de Edeneberk who rendered homage to King Edward I in his brief conquest of Scotland in 1296. 6

Later some of the family were found at Kings Walden in Hertfordshire. "On the north side of the chancel of the church is a chapel, the burial-place of the Hale family, erected by William Hale, who died in 1648." 7

Hailes Castle is a 14th century castle about a mile and a half south west of East Linton, East Lothian, Scotland. It dates back to c. 1300. Hailes Abbey near Winchcombe in Gloucestershire was built in 1245 or 1246 but little remains of the abbey today.

Early History of the Hailes family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hailes research. Another 112 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1189, 1325, 1331, 1379, 1381, 1394, 1455, 1456, 1457, 1459, 1470, 1471, 1490, 1516, 1540, 1572, 1576, 1584, 1608, 1609, 1614, 1625, 1626, 1636, 1640, 1645, 1654, 1656, 1660, 1661, 1666, 1676, 1677, 1679, 1681, 1684, 1691, 1692, 1694, 1700, 1729, 1762, 1773, 1793, 1812 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Hailes History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hailes Spelling Variations

One relatively recent invention that did much to standardize English spelling was the printing press. However, before its invention even the most literate people recorded their names according to sound rather than spelling. The spelling variations under which the name Hailes has appeared include Hale, Hail, Hailes, Hayles, Hayle, Hales, Haile and many more.

Early Notables of the Hailes family

Notables of the family at this time include Sir Frank Hale; Sir Stephen Hales (before 1331-1394), of Testerton, Norfolk, an English soldier and politician; John Hales, the medieval Bishop of Exeter (1455-1456); John Hales (also Hals or Halse; died 1490), Dean of Exeter between 1457 and 1459; Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield in 1459; Lord Privy Seal (1470-1471); John Hales (c.1470-1540), of The Dungeon, Canterbury, Kent, an administrator and Baron of the Exchequer; John Hales (c.1516-1572), a writer, administrator and politician; John Hales (died 1608), the owner of the Whitefriars in Coventry at which two of the Marprelate tracts were printed...
Another 130 words (9 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Hailes Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Hailes family to Ireland

Some of the Hailes family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 57 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Hailes migration to the United States +

At this time, the shores of the New World beckoned many English families that felt that the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. Thousands left England at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. A great portion of these settlers never survived the journey and even a greater number arrived sick, starving, and without a penny. The survivors, however, were often greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. These English settlers made significant contributions to those colonies that would eventually become the United States and Canada. An examination of early immigration records and passenger ship lists revealed that people bearing the name Hailes arrived in North America very early:

Hailes Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • John Hailes, who landed in Maryland in 1660 8
  • Fra Hailes, who landed in Virginia in 1663 8
  • James Hailes, who arrived in Virginia in 1663 8
  • Rachaell Hailes, who arrived in Virginia in 1664 8
  • Robert Hailes, who landed in Virginia in 1665-1666 8
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Hailes Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • David Hailes, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1840 8

Hailes migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Hailes Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Nathaniel Hailes, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Buckinghamshire" in 1839 9
  • John Hailes, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Canton" in 1846 10
  • Thomas Hailes, aged 74, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Norman"

Hailes migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Hailes Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mr. William Hailes, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Martaban" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 8th October 1856 11

Contemporary Notables of the name Hailes (post 1700) +

  • William Anthony Hailes (1766-1845), English miscellaneous writer, son of a shipwright, born at Newcastle-upon-Tyne on 24 May 1766 12
  • Julia Hailes (b. 1961), English author, best known for her book The Green Consumer Guide which sold a million copies worldwide
  • Gary Hailes (b. 1965), English actor, known for his roles in EastEnders (1985), Small Time Obsession (2000) and Nobody's Hero (1982)
  • Brigadier William Allan Hailes (1891-1949), Australian Director of Surgery, Australian Imperial Force from 1942 to 1945 13
  • Daniel Hailes (1751-1835), British diplomat, British signatory to the Anglo-Dutch treaty ending the Fourth Anglo-Dutch War in 1783
  • Thomas Hailes Lacy (1809-1873), British actor, playwright, theatrical manager, bookseller, and theatrical publisher


The Hailes 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: Cum principibus
Motto Translation: Whith my chiefs


  1. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  2. Rye, Walter, A History of Norfolk. London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, 1885. Print
  3. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  4. 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.
  5. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
  6. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
  7. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  8. 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)
  9. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) BUCKINGHAMSHIRE 1839. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1839Buckinghamshire.htm
  10. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) CANTON 1846. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1846Canton.htm
  11. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  12. Wikisource contributors. "Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900." Wikisource . Wikisource , 4 Jun. 2018. Web. 30 June 2020
  13. Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2011, August 30) William Hailes. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Hailes/William_Allan/Australia.html


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