Show ContentsHallsul History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

When the ancestors of the Hallsul family emigrated to England following the Norman Conquest in 1066 they brought their family name with them. They lived in Lancashire, as Lords of the Manor of Halsall.

Early Origins of the Hallsul family

The surname Hallsul was first found in Lancashire where they held a family seat as Lords of the manor of Halsall. At the time of the taking of the Domesday Book in 1086 the village of Halsall was held by Count Roger de Poitou, a Norman noble who was Earl of Lancaster, and conjecturally the Halsalls are descended from this line. "The manor [of Birkdale, Lancashire], in the reign of Henry IV., was held by the Halsalls." 1 Unfortunately, by the 17th century the manor was passed on to other families.

Perhaps this entry will shed some light into the lost manor. "By this time there had probably been an infeudation in favour of the Halsall family. In 1346, the fourth part of a knight's fee in Argar Meols was held by Otes de Halsall; he rendered 10s [(shillings)], but it was stated that the place 'had been annihilated by the sea and there was no habitation there.' From an inquisition taken in 1404, it appears that the manors of Argar Meols and Birkdale had been held by Otes' father, Gilbert, so that the transfer from the old lords to the new must have taken place about 1320. " 2

Early History of the Hallsul family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hallsul research. Another 157 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1548 and 1599 are included under the topic Early Hallsul History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hallsul Spelling Variations

The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries. For that reason, spelling variations are common among many Anglo-Norman names. The shape of the English language was frequently changed with the introduction of elements of Norman French, Latin, and other European languages; even the spelling of literate people's names were subsequently modified. Hallsul has been recorded under many different variations, including Hallsall, Halsall, Halshall, Hawshall, Halsell, Hallsell and many more.

Early Notables of the Hallsul family

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

Ireland Migration of the Hallsul family to Ireland

Some of the Hallsul family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Hallsul family

To escape the uncertainty of the political and religious uncertainty found in England, many English families boarded ships at great expense to sail for the colonies held by Britain. The passages were expensive, though, and the boats were unsafe, overcrowded, and ridden with disease. Those who were hardy and lucky enough to make the passage intact were rewarded with land, opportunity, and social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families went on to be important contributors to the young nations of Canada and the United States where they settled. Hallsuls were some of the first of the immigrants to arrive in North America: James Halsall landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1844.



  1. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  2. 'Townships: Scarisbrick', in A History of the County of Lancaster: Volume 3, ed. William Farrer and J Brownbill (London, 1907), pp. 265-276. British History Online http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/lancs/vol3/pp265-276 [accessed 21 January 2017].


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