Show ContentsHallham History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Hallham

What does the name Hallham mean?

Hallham is a name whose history is connected to the ancient Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. The name is derived from when the Hallham family once lived in Suffolk where the name literally means dwellers at the hall, or servant at the hall. Alternatively the name could have been derived from the Old English word halemann, which means dweller at the hale. 1

Early Origins of the Hallham family

The surname Hallham was first found in Suffolk, where shortly after the Domesday Book, Æluric Halleman was listed c. 1095. Later Gilbert le Halleman was listed in Nottinghamshire in 1301 and William and John Haleman were listed in the Subsidy Rolls for Essex in 1327 and later in the Assize Rolls for Essex in 1379. 1

The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 had three listings for the family: Willelmus Halleman; Roger Halman; and Johannes Halman who all held lands there at that time. 2

Early History of the Hallham family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hallham research. Another 52 words (4 lines of text) covering the year 1619 is included under the topic Early Hallham History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hallham 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 Hallham family name include Hallman, Halman and others.

Early Notables of the Hallham family

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

Migration of the Hallham 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 Hallham surname or a spelling variation of the name include: Anthony Hallman settled in Philadelphia in 1734; John Hallman settled in Philadelphia in 1786; Catherine Hallman and Margaret Hallman settled in New York in 1849..



  1. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  2. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)


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