Show ContentsHailstomb History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Hailstomb family

The surname Hailstomb was first found in Shropshire at Halston, an extra-parochial liberty, in the hundred of Oswestry. "The Knights Templars had a preceptory here, dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, which subsequently belonged to the Hospitallers. Halston House is a handsome mansion, in front of which is a fine sheet of water, formed by a diversion of the channel of the river Perry." 1

However, we must look to Cheshire to find some of the first entries for the family. Thomas Halstein was listed there in 1227 and the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273-1279 included a listing for John Halsteyn. The Subsidy Rolls of 1327 included an entry for William Halsteyn. A few years later, John de Halston was recorded in the Subsidy Rolls for Worcestershire in 1332. 2

Early History of the Hailstomb family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hailstomb research. Another 59 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1379, 1583, 1759 and 1847 are included under the topic Early Hailstomb History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hailstomb Spelling Variations

Sound was what guided spelling in the essentially pre-literate Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Also, before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Therefore, spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Hailstomb family name include Hailstone, Halstone, Halston, Hailston, Helistones, Ailston, Ailstone, Aylston and many more.

Early Notables of the Hailstomb family

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

Migration of the Hailstomb family

For political, religious, and economic reasons, thousands of English families boarded ships for Ireland, Canada, the America colonies, and many of smaller tropical colonies in the hope of finding better lives abroad. Although the passage on the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving, those families that survived the trip often went on to make valuable contributions to those new societies to which they arrived. Early immigrants bearing the Hailstomb surname or a spelling variation of the name include: Susan Halston who settled in Virginia in 1653; and Thomas Hailstone to America in 1765.



  1. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  2. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)


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