Haweis History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The name Haweis is of Anglo-Saxon origin and came from the Old French personal name Haueis and the Old German personal name Hadewidis, which literally means battlewide. The surname Haweis may also be derived from residence "at the haw", which refers to a garth, yard, or enclosure. 1

Another source presumes that the name was derived from "dweller by the enclosure", from the Old English "haga" or Old Norse "hagi." "Hawe is clearly a pet-form of some common name, but of what it is difficult to decide. It may be for Old English for 'Hafoc.' " 2

Early Origins of the Haweis family

The surname Haweis was first found in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 where we found Alan del Hawes, Cambridgeshire; John de la Hawe, Huntingdonshire; Peter in le Hawe, Kent; Reginald filius Hawise, Cambridgeshire; Richard Hawyse, Oxfordshire; and Hawis de Stanweye, Norfolk. 1

In the early years, the name was used as both a forename and surname as seen by this entry in the Assize Rolls for Cheshire in 1286: Hawe de Bolinton. And more often than not, the name was used in a singular form as in William and Thomas Hawe who were listed in the Susidy Rolls of 1275 in Worcestershire. 2

Early Norfolk records showed Maurice atte-Hawe, was Rector of Frethorp, Norfolk in 1349 and William atte-Hawe, was Rector of Newton, Norfolk in 1362. 3

In the far south and west, in the parish of Stratton, Cornwall we found this interesting entry for the family: "Towards the conclusion of the fourteenth century, these estates were carried by an heiress to Sir Richard Haweis, whose daughter married, first, Sir John Tresilian, chief justice of the King's Bench, and, then Sir, John Coleshill, to whom Guy de Blanchminster rector of Lansalloes, released in 1393, all right in the manors of Stratton and Binnamy. From this family they were carried by an heiress to a younger branch of the Arundells, which becoming extinct, they were divided among its numerous representatives." 4

Early History of the Haweis family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Haweis research. Another 194 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1273, 1327, 1332, 1378, 1379, 1523, 1603, 1604, 1606, 1623, 1627, 1665, 1668 and 1731 are included under the topic Early Haweis History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Haweis Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, French and other languages became incorporated into English through the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Haweis include Hawes, Hawe, Haugh, Haughes, Hause and others.

Early Notables of the Haweis family

Notables of this surname at this time include: Stephen Hawes (died 1523), a popular English poet during the Tudor period. His best known work was "The History of Graunde Amour and la Bel Pucel, conteining the knowledge of the Seven Sciences and the Course of Mans Life in this Woride or The Passetyme of Pleasure." Edward Hawes (fl. 1606), was an English poet, was author of 'Trayterous Percyes and Catesbyes Prosopopeia. Written by Edward Hawes, Scholler at Westminster, a Youth of sixteene yeers...
Another 82 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Haweis Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Haweis family

A great wave of immigration to the New World was the result of the enormous political and religious disarray that struck England at that time. Families left for the New World in extremely large numbers. The long journey was the end of many immigrants and many more arrived sick and starving. Still, those who made it were rewarded with an opportunity far greater than they had known at home in England. These emigrant families went on to make significant contributions to these emerging colonies in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers carried this name or one of its variants: Edmond Hawes who brought his wife and children to New England in 1635. In the same year Reginoll Hawes settled his family in Virginia; followed by Walter in 1652.

Citations +

Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Page, William (ed), A History of the County of Norfolk. London: Victoria County History, 1906. Print
Hutchins, Fortescue, The History of Cornwall, from the Earliest Records and Traditions to the Present Time. London: William Penaluna, 1824. Print