Show ContentsHulands History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The origins of the Hulands name lie with England's ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. It comes from when the family lived in an enclosed region. The surname Hulands originally derived from the Old English word hough which referred to a small protected space. [1]

We enclose this quotation in its entirety: "It has been stated on the authority of George of Croyland, who wrote an account of the family in 1550, that the noble and knightly race of this name could trace themselves backwards thirteen generations beyond the Norman Conquest! For 13 we should probably read 3; and there is a more credible genealogy which makes the fundator gentis one Otho, whose son Stephen flourished under Edward the Confessor, as lord of Stevington, co. Lincoln, and his son, Ralph de Holand, it is said, continued to hold his lands by the permission of William the Conqueror. These lands were in the district of Lincolnshire still known as Holland, but there is also a Holland in Lancashire which belonged to the family. They were ennobled by Edward I., and their blood mingled with that of royalty itself by the marriage of Thomas de Holland with the lovely Joane Plantagenet, the Fair Maid of Kent, and granddaughter of King Edward III." [2]

Early Origins of the Hulands family

The surname Hulands was first found in Essex, where the Saxon Begmundus de Holande was listed c. 975. Lancashire would prove to be a strong homeland in early years as the Assize Rolls of 1246 record William de Holaund at that time. [3] Some were found at Thingwall, a detached hamlet, in the township of Little Woolton, parish of Childwall, union and hundred of West Derby.

"Thyngwall was given in exchange by King John to an individual whose name is not now on record. In the following reign, Richard, son of Thurston de Holland, held a carucate of land here 'of our lord the king,' for one mark, in exchange for his inheritance in Snodden (Smithden), 'which the king placed in his own forest.'" [4]

"During the thirteenth century the descent of the manor [of West Derby] followed that of the wapentake and land between Ribble and Mersey, but in 1316 Thomas, earl of Lancaster, gave the manor, with 300 acres of wood, to Robert de Holand, and about four years later confirmed the grant with large additions, viz., the manor of West Derby. [5]

Another branch was found at Dalbury in Derbyshire in early times. "In the reign of Edward II. Dalbury and Lees were the property of Sir Robert Holland." [4] In Devon, "Richard II. gave [Dartington] to his half-brother John Holland, Duke of Exeter; and he erected the great hall and its associated quadrangle, if, indeed, a portion of the latter is not somewhat earlier. The part of the mansion now inhabited was rebuilt in the time of Elizabeth. Margaret, Countess of Richmond, had a grant of the manor in 1487 for life." [6]

In Scotland, "there are several places named Houlland in Shetland and there are Hollands in Orkney. Hollandbush is in Stirlingshire, and Holland-Hirst is in the parish of Kirkintilloch. Willelmus de Holland, was a witness in the reign of Alexander II. Richard Holande, vicar of Ronaldsay, 1467 derived his surname from one of the three places so named in Orkney. " [7]

Early History of the Hulands family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hulands research. Another 94 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1352, 1370, 1374, 1384, 1400, 1403, 1405, 1406, 1407, 1408, 1452, 1469, 1472, 1565, 1579, 1580, 1587, 1599, 1603, 1604, 1605, 1616, 1617, 1625, 1626, 1640, 1654, 1656, 1658, 1660, 1661, 1671, 1687, 1695, 1701, 1722 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Hulands History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hulands Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years, the English language had no fast system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations are commonly found in early Anglo-Saxon surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Hulands were recorded, including Holland, Holand and others.

Early Notables of the Hulands family

Notables of the family at this time include John Holland, 1st Duke of Exeter (c. 1352-1400), 1st Earl of Huntingdon, English nobleman, primarily remembered for helping cause the downfall of Thomas of Woodstock, 1st Duke of Gloucester and then for conspiring against Henry IV; Thomas Holland, (1374-1400), 1st Duke of Surrey, 3rd Earl of Kent, 4th Baron Holland, Earl Marshal, English nobleman; Duke of Exeter; Earl of Kent; Count of Holland; Alianore Holland, Countess of March (1370-1405), through her daughter, Anne Mortimer,Edmund Holland, 4th Earl of Kent, 5th Baron Holand, (1384-1408), Earl of Kent (c. 1400-c. 1407), the 106th Knight of...
Another 161 words (12 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Hulands Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Hulands family to Ireland

Some of the Hulands family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 61 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Hulands family

To escape oppression and starvation at that time, many English families left for the "open frontiers" of the New World with all its perceived opportunities. In droves people migrated to the many British colonies, those in North America in particular, paying high rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Although many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, those who did see the shores of North America perceived great opportunities before them. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Research into various historical records revealed some of first members of the Hulands family emigrate to North America: Gabriel Holland settled in Virginia in 1623; Edward Holland settled in Virginia in 1637; John Holland settled in Jamaica in 1661; another John Holland settled in Virginia in 1649.



  1. Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
  2. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  3. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  4. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  5. 'Townships: Scarisbrick', in A History of the County of Lancaster: Volume 3, ed. William Farrer and J Brownbill (London, 1907), pp. 265-276. British History Online http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/lancs/vol3/pp265-276 [accessed 21 January 2017].
  6. Worth, R.N., A History of Devonshire London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, E.G., 1895. Digital
  7. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)


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