Show ContentsHickley History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

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Hickley Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Etymology of Hickley

What does the name Hickley mean?

The present generation of the Hickley family is only the most recent to bear a name that dates back to the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. Their name comes from having lived in the regions of Hockley in Essex and Wales. The surname Hickley originally derived from the Old English word hoccsleah which referred to someone who lived close to hills. 1

The Hockey variant was derived from the "Anglo-Saxon personal name Hoc, Hoc(c)a, with the diminutive suffix -y." 2

Early Origins of the Hickley family

The surname Hickley was first found in Essex at Hockley, a parish, in the union and hundred of Rochford, about 2¼ miles from Rayleigh. 3 4 5 This place dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086 when it was known as Hocheleia. 6

And this is where we found Michael de Hockele listed in the Feet of Fines for 1203. Over one hundred years later in Worcestershire, Nicholas de Hockelaye was found in the Subsidy Rolls for 1332. 7

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 had only listing for the family, that of William de Hokkele in Huntingdonshire. 8 In Somerset, Thomas de Hokkeleghe was listed there 1 Edward III (during the first year of Edward III's reign.) 9

Early History of the Hickley family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hickley research. Another 108 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1220, 1273, 1593, 1606 and 1707 are included under the topic Early Hickley History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hickley Spelling Variations

Until the dictionary, an invention of only the last few hundred years, the English language lacked any comprehensive system of spelling rules. Consequently, spelling variations in names are frequently found in early Anglo-Saxon and later Anglo-Norman documents. One person's name was often spelled several different ways over a lifetime. The recorded variations of Hickley include Hockley, Hockly, Hokeley, Hokelley and others.

Early Notables of the Hickley family

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

Hickley migration to the United States +

Thousands of English families boarded ships sailing to the New World in the hope of escaping the unrest found in England at this time. Although the search for opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad took the lives of many because of the cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels, the opportunity perceived in the growing colonies of North America beckoned. Many of the settlers who survived the journey went on to make important contributions to the transplanted cultures of their adopted countries. The Hickley were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records:

Hickley Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Mark Hickley, who arrived in America in 1800 10
  • Mary A Hickley, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1860 10
  • Samuel Hickley, aged 35, who immigrated to the United States from London, in 1892
  • Selina Hickley, aged 29, who landed in America from London, in 1892
  • Thomas Hickley, aged 7, who landed in America from London, in 1892
Hickley Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Margaret Hickley, aged 20, who landed in America from Southhampton, in 1904
  • Mary Ann Hickley, aged 49, who settled in America from Southampton, in 1904
  • Arthur S. Hickley, aged 52, who landed in America from Southampton, in 1904
  • Herbert Hickley, aged 25, who immigrated to the United States from Southampton, in 1904
  • Edgar T. Hickley, aged 25, who settled in America from London, in 1905
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Hickley migration to Canada +

Hickley Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century
  • Fredk. William Hickley, aged 43, who settled in Toronto, Canada, in 1924
  • Lillian Margaret Hickley, aged 42, who settled in Toronto, Canada, in 1924

Hickley migration to Australia +

Hickley Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Eleanor Hickley, aged 32, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Lysander" in 1851 11
  • Ellen Hickley, aged 20, a farm servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Bucephalus"
  • Margaret Hickley, aged 22, a farm servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Bucephalus"
  • Mary Hickley, aged 18, a farm servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Bucephalus"
  • Mary Hickley, aged 17, a servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1856 aboard the ship "Amazon"
  1. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  2. Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
  3. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  4. Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
  5. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  6. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  7. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  8. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  9. Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
  10. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  11. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) LYSANDER 1851. Retrieved http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1851Lysander.htm

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