| ![Show Contents]() Holsey History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 England The present generation of the Holsey 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 county of Devon in an area that was near the hazel-trees. Holsey is a topographic surname, which was given to a person who resided near a physical feature such as a hill, stream, church, or type of tree. Early Origins of the Holsey familyThe surname Holsey was first found in Surrey where they held a family seat from very ancient times, some say well before the Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066 A.D. Early History of the Holsey familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Holsey research. Another 82 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1708, 1839, 1920 and 1927 are included under the topic Early Holsey History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Holsey Spelling VariationsUntil 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 Holsey include Halsey, Hallsey and others. Early Notables of the Holsey familyNotables of the family at this time include Sir Thomas Frederick Halsey, 1st Baronet PC (1839-1927), an English politician; and John Halsey (died 1708) was a colonial American privateer and a later pirate who was active in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans during the early 18th century. According to Forbes, he was the eighth highest earning pirate...
Another 57 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Holsey Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Holsey RankingIn the United States, the name Holsey is the 16,495th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1 Migration of the Holsey familyThousands 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 Holsey were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records: Thomas Halsey of Geddesden Park settled in Long Island in 1640; John Halsey settled in Boston Mass in 1635 with his brother Richard; George Halsey settled in New England in 1630.
| Contemporary Notables of the name Holsey (post 1700) | + |
- Leonard Bernard Holsey (b. 1973), American former NFL football defensive tackle
- Hopkins Holsey (1779-1856), American newspaper publisher, lawyer and politician, Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Georgia's at-large congressional district (1835-1839)
- Hopkins Holsey (1799-1859), American Democratic Party politician, Member of Georgia State Legislature; U.S. Representative from Georgia at-large, 1835-39 2
- Holsey Gates Handyside (b. 1927), American politician, U.S. Ambassador to Mauritania, 1975 3
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: Nescit vox missa reverti
Motto Translation: When a word is once spoken it cannot be recalled.
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