Show ContentsHoadly History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Hoadly

What does the name Hoadly mean?

The ancient history of the Hoadly name begins with the ancient Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. The name is derived from when the family resided in East Hoathly (Hoathley) or West Hoathly (Hoathley), parishes in Sussex. "Of the truth of this derivation there can be no doubt." 1

Of the two, West Hoathley is the oldest, dating back to 1121 when it was known as Hadlega. East Hoathley dates back to 1287 when it was known as Hodlegh. Both literally mean "heathy woodland clearing" or "woodland clearing where heather grows." 2

Early Origins of the Hoadly family

The surname Hoadly was first found in Sussex, where William de Hodlegh was listed in the Subsidy Rolls in 1296. 3

Early History of the Hoadly family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hoadly research. Another 63 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1616, 1643, 1676, 1678, 1705, 1706, 1711, 1746, 1757, 1761, 1776 and 1798 are included under the topic Early Hoadly History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hoadly Spelling Variations

Until quite recently, the English language has lacked a definite system of spelling rules. Consequently, Anglo-Saxon surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. Changes in Anglo-Saxon names were influenced by the evolution of the English language, as it incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other languages. Although Medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, so it is common to find one person referred to by several different spellings of his surname, even the most literate people varied the spelling of their own names. Variations of the name Hoadly include Hoadley, Hoadly, Hodly, Hoadely, Hodely and others.

Early Notables of the Hoadly family

Distinguished members of the family include

  • Benjamin Hoadly (1676-1761), Bishop of Bangor, Hereford, Salisbury and Winchester, who was born in Westerham, Kent. John Hoadly, Archbishop of Armagh [q. v.], was his brother
  • Benjamin Hoadly (1706-1757), was an English physician, son of Benjamin Hoadly, Bishop of Winchester [q. v.] and was born on 10 February 1706 in Broad Street, London
  • John Hoadly (1711-1776), was an English poet and dramatist, born in Broad Street, London, on 8 October 1711, and was the youngest son of Benjamin Hoadly (1676-1761.)
  • John Hoadly (1678-1746), Archbishop of Armagh, was born at Tottenham, Middlesex, 27 September 1678, and was younger brother of Benjamin Hoadly (1676-1761.)
  • Samuel Hoadly (1643-1705), English schoolmaster and writer of educational books; his Natural Method of Teaching remaining in print for almost a century. 4

Migration of the Hoadly family

Searching for a better life, many English families migrated to British colonies. Unfortunately, the majority of them traveled 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 ocean. For those families that arrived safely, modest prosperity was attainable, and many went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the new colonies. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Hoadly or a variant listed above: John Hoadley, who sailed to New England in 1640 and Mrs. Hoadley, to San Francisco with her children in 1860.


Contemporary Notables of the name Hoadly (post 1700) +

  • George Hoadly (1826-1902), American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Ohio State Constitutional Convention from Hamilton County, 1873; Governor of Ohio, 1884-86
  • Genevieve G. Hoadly, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Ohio, 1928, 1932; Delegate to Ohio convention to ratify 21st amendment, 1933 5


The Hoadly 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: Veritas et patria
Motto Translation: Truth and faith.


  1. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  2. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  3. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  4. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
  5. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, November 24) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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