Heasghan History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The name Heasghan was brought to England in the wave of migration that followed the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Heasghan family lived in Warwickshire. The Hayman, however, does not refer to that area, but is a topographical reference to an enclosure of some sort. The name was originally derived from the Old English word haye, which meant enclosure. 1

Alternatively, the name could have been an occupational one that referred to "the hayman" or seller of hay. 2

Early Origins of the Heasghan family

The surname Heasghan was first found in Warwickshire where one of the first records of the name was Walter Heyman who was listed there in the Subsidy Rolls of Warwickshire in 1332. 1

Early History of the Heasghan family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Heasghan research. Another 125 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1575, 1580, 1610, 1618, 1629, 1640, 1641, 1642, 1653, 1658, 1690, 1708, 1723, 1742 and 1776 are included under the topic Early Heasghan History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Heasghan Spelling Variations

Norman surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. The frequent changes in surnames are largely due to the fact that the Old and Middle English languages lacked definite spelling rules. The introduction of Norman French to England, as well as the official court languages of Latin and French, also had pronounced influences on the spelling of surnames. Since medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, rather than adhering to any specific spelling rules, it was common to find the same individual referred to with different spellings. The name has been spelled Hayman, Heyman and others.

Early Notables of the Heasghan family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Robert Hayman (1575-1629), English poet from Newton Abbot, Devon, colonist and Proprietary Governor of Bristol's Hope colony in Newfoundland. He was the eldest of nine children. His father, Nicholas Hayman, was a prosperous citizen and later mayor and MP of both Totnes and Dartmouth. Hayman was appointed the Newfoundland colony's first and only governor in 1618 when Bristol's Society of Merchant Venturers received a charter from King James I of England to establish the settlement. Hayman lived in the colony for fifteen months, primarily in Harbour Grace, before returning to England. Sir Peter Heyman...
Another 103 words (7 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Heasghan Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Heasghan family to Ireland

Some of the Heasghan 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 Heasghan family

Many English families emigrated to North American colonies in order to escape the political chaos in Britain at this time. Unfortunately, many English families made the trip to the New World under extremely harsh conditions. Overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the stormy Atlantic. Despite these hardships, many of the families prospered and went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the United States and Canada. Early North American immigration records have revealed a number of people bearing the name Heasghan or a variant listed above: William Hayman settled in Barbados in 1634; Captain Hayman settled in Boston in 1765; William Hayman arrived in Philadelphia in 1774; Lambert Haymen settled in Philadelphia in 1875..

The Heasghan Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Coelum non solum
Motto Translation: Heaven not earth.

Citations +

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)