Show ContentsHalksworth History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

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Halksworth Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Etymology of Halksworth

What does the name Halksworth mean?

The present generation of the Halksworth family is only the most recent to bear a name that dates back to the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. Their name comes from having lived in one of two similarly-named places. The parish of Hawksworth is located eight miles from Newark in Nottinghamshire. The township of Hawksworth is in the parish of Arncliffe in the West Riding of Yorkshire. The surname Halksworth 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 Halksworth family

The surname Halksworth was first found in Nottinghamshire where Laurence de Houkeswurda was listed in the Pipe Rolls of 1194. Later we found Robert de Hauekeswrth in the Feet of Fines for Yorkshire in 1226 and later again, John Hawkesworth was listed in the Assize Rolls for Lincolnshire in 1395. 1

The family were strongest in the West Riding of Yorkshire at Hawksworth, which "comprises by computation 2000 acres, chiefly the property of F. Hawkesworth Fawkes, Esq., who is Lord of the Manor." 2

The parish dates back to Saxon times when it was known as Hafecesweorthe c. 1030. 3 By the time of the Domesday Book of 1086, the parish was known as Hauocesorde. 4

The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 listed: Johannes de Haukesworth, wright; Willelmus de Haukesworth, wright; and Anabilla de Hewkesworth, vidua. 5 In each case, the occupation of the entry appeared after the surname.

William de Hawkesworth (died 1349) was an English medieval college head and university chancellor, Provost of Oriel College, Oxford in 1348.

The Hawkesworth Baronetcy (also Hawksworth and Hoxworth), of Hawksworth, near Guiseley in West Yorkshire, was created in 1678 for Walter Hawkesworth (1660-1683). His son, the second Baronet (died 1735) was High Sheriff of Yorkshire in 1721, and was twice president of the Masonic lodge at York. The title became extinct on his death in 1735.

Early History of the Halksworth family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Halksworth research. Another 79 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1573, 1606, 1715, 1744, 1746, 1749, 1761 and 1773 are included under the topic Early Halksworth History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Halksworth Spelling Variations

Until the dictionary, an invention of only the last few hundred years, the English language lacked any comprehensive system of spelling rules. Consequently, spelling variations in names are frequently found in early Anglo-Saxon and later Anglo-Norman documents. One person's name was often spelled several different ways over a lifetime. The recorded variations of Halksworth include Hawkesworth, Hawksworth, Hawkeworth and others.

Early Notables of the Halksworth family

Walter Hawkesworth (c. 1573-1606), an English dramatist, the second son of Walter Hawkesworth of Hawkesworth, Yorkshire, by his wife Isabel, daughter and coheiress of Thomas Colthurst of Edisforth in the same county. 6 John Hawkesworth (c.1715-1773), was an English writer. He was commissioned by the Admiralty to edit Captain James Cook's papers relative to his first voyage. He was of humble origin. In his youth he was 'a hired clerk to one Harwood, an attorney in Grocers' Alley in the Poultry.' In 1744 he is said...
Another 85 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Halksworth Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Halksworth family

Thousands of English families boarded ships sailing to the New World in the hope of escaping the unrest found in England at this time. Although the search for opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad took the lives of many because of the cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels, the opportunity perceived in the growing colonies of North America beckoned. Many of the settlers who survived the journey went on to make important contributions to the transplanted cultures of their adopted countries. The Halksworth were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records: John Hawksworth settled in Barbados in 1680; along with William, and his servants; Charles and Thomas Hawksworth arrived in Philadelphia in 1860; Thomas Hawkesworth settled in Boston in 1635.
  1. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  2. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  3. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  4. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  5. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  6. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print

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