Headly History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Etymology of Headly

What does the name Headly mean?

The lineage of the name Headly begins with the Anglo-Saxon tribes in Britain. It is a result of when they lived in one of a variety of similarly-named places. Headley in Hampshire is the oldest. The surname Headly 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 Headly family

The surname Headly was first found in Shropshire and Hampshire. One of the first records of the name was Siward de Hedeleia who was listed in 1148, in Winton, Hampshire. Stephen de Hedleye was listed the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327. 1 The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 list Alan de Hedleg, and Nicholas de Heddeleg in Shropshire and the Yorkshire Poll Tax Records of 1379 list Willelmus de Hedlay and Margareta de Hedelay. 2

Early History of the Headly family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Headly research. Another 173 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1273 and 1832 are included under the topic Early Headly History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Headly Spelling Variations

Only recently has spelling become standardized in the English language. As the English language evolved in the Middle Ages, the spelling of names changed also. The name Headly has undergone many spelling variations, including Headley, Heggeley, Headly, Hedley, Hedly, Hedlegg, Hedleigh, Headlee, Headleigh, Hegeley and many more.

Early Notables of the Headly family

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

Headly migration to the United States +

To escape the unstable social climate in England of this time, many families boarded ships for the New World with the hope of finding land, opportunity, and greater religious and political freedom. Although the voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, those families that arrived often found greater opportunities and freedoms than they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make significant contributions to the rapidly developing colonies in which they settled. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Headly were among those contributors:

Headly Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Will Headly, who settled in Georgia in 1734

Sources +

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