Halfert History, Family Crest & Coats of ArmsThe ancestors of the name Halfert date back to the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. The name is derived from when the Halfert family lived in Halford, a place-name found in Devon, Shropshire, or Warwickshire, or in Haleford, a lost place in Kent. Despite the similarity of the place-names, they are derived from different sources. The Halford name which was found in Salop (now called Shropshire), for example, is derived from the Old English words haforce, which means "hawk," and ford, a word that means "shallow place where a river may be crossed by wading." 1 It was rendered as Hauerford in 1155. Another Halford, this one in Warwickshire, was listed as Halchford sometime in the 12th century; it is derived from the Old English words halh, which meant "remote nook or corner of land," and ford, a shallow place where a river could be crossed without a bridge. 1 "Halford was a Devonshire surname in the reign of Edward I. (H. R.). There is a Warwickshire parish of the name." 2 3 Early Origins of the Halfert familyThe surname Halfert was first found in Kent where Thomas de Haleford was listed in the Pipe Rolls of 1200. Later, Robert de Halford was found in the Subsidy Rolls for Leicestershire in 1327. 4 The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 had two listings for the family: William de Halford, Devon; and William de Holeford, Oxfordshire. 5 Robert de Haleford, was listed in Warwickshire, Henry III-Edward I, according to the source Testa de Nevill, sive Liber Feodorum, temp. Henry III-Edward I. 6 Early History of the Halfert familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Halfert research. Another 238 words (17 lines of text) covering the years 1580, 1641, 1658, 1663, 1679, 1689, 1690, 1695, 1727 and 1844 are included under the topic Early Halfert History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Halfert Spelling VariationsIt is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Halfert 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. The variations of the name Halfert include: Halford, Hallford, Halforde and others. Early Notables of the Halfert familyNotables of the family at this time include Sir Richard Halford, 1st Baronet (c.?1580-1658), Sheriff of Leicestershire in the 19th year of James I's reign, created a Baronet on 18 December 1641, notable for his allegiance to Charles I... Migration of the Halfert familyMany 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 Halfert or a variant listed above: Henry Halferd, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1822; Thomas Halford, who settled in Boston, Massachusetts in 1634; Nancy Halferty, who came to St. John, N.B. in 1838.
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: Virtus in actione consistit Motto Translation: Virtue consists in action.
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