SURNAMES BEGINNING WITH "H"

[Hacker], [Hackman], [Hale], [Hall], [Halstead], [Hamilton], [Hammond], [Hamton], [Hanson], [Hardcastle], [Harding], [Hardwick], [Hardy], [Harris], [Hart], [Harvey], [Hatchell], [Havers], [Hayes], [Hayward], [Head], [Healy], [Heath], [Hellman], [Henry], [Hensman], [Herd], [Hewer], [Higden], [Higginson], [Highfield], [Hill], [Hilliard], [Hillier], [Hobbs], [Hodges], [Hogan], [Hoggard], [Holden], [Holland], [Hollingworth], [Holmes], [Holt], [Holz], [Hood], [Hook], [Hooper], [Hopkins], [Horton], [Horwood], [Howard], [Howell], [Hughes], [Humphreys], [Hunter], [Hurst], [Hussey], [Hutchins]

HACKER - Possibly derived from an occupational title for the manufacturer of agricultural Hoes.

HACKMAN - An occupational title for a man employed within the Linen industry who separated the Flax by the use of a "Hackle" a combed or toothed implement.

HALE - An occasional family name which is thought to have its foundations in the early English word "Healh" which was said to denote a nook or hollow.

HALL - Thought to relate to a building ie "Hall", whether by geographical location or by employment and is derived from the Anglo Saxon word "Heall" or the Germanic word "Halla".

HALSTEAD - The "Hal" prefix has the same origins as above, but is added to by the suffix "Stede" which is thought to mean site, place or location and undoubtedly referred to a specific geographical location.

HAMILTON - The "ton" suffix is thought to derive from the Anglo Saxon word which identified a protected homestead or enclosure. See Hamton. The prefix "Ham" originates from the Old English word meaning a "small village", although the word "Hamil" is thought to denote a "treeless" hill or mound.

HAMMOND - The prefix "Ham" originates from the Old English word meaning a "small village"

HAMTON - A place name recorded from around 837AD and a possible derivation of or source for the similar sounding Hampton and/or Hamilton. The prefix "Ham" originates from the Old English word meaning "village" and is almost certainly the source for the peculiarly English word "Hamlet".

HANSON - Thought to originate from Scandanavia and come to Britain with the Vikings and to denote and be a contraction of "Han's Son".

HARDCASTLE - The modern day surname possibly derives from a particular geographical location, associating an individual or a family with that specific site, in this case an impregnable castle or fort.

HARDING - Thought to have originated from the Anglo Saxon word "Heard" denoting a hardy, brave or valiant man.

HARDWICK - Originating from the early English words "Heorde" meaning "Herd" and "Wick" which means a "Farm", the family name identified a specific geographical location, which attached itself to those that lived there. It is also worth pointing out that the "wick" suffix might have a relationship with the word early English "WICH", that had a connection with salt production and distribution.

HARDY - Another variation of the name HARDING, which is shown above.

HARRIS - Commonly thought to be derived and contracted from "Harry's Son" which was originally recorded as Harrison and subsequently shortened to Harris or its other variation Harrles. Harry is commonly used as a variant for the forename Henry and has been used by a number of English kings.

HART - The origins of the name are thought to be associated with the animal of that name (Deer), although the Irish/Gaelic form of the name are said to come from the name "Art" which is thought to mean "Bear" or "Hero". Variations include Hurt.

HARVEY - An early first name, thought to have its roots in the Breton French name "Haerviu" which was said to describe a person who was "battle worthy" and that was first brought to Britain by followers of William the Conqueror.

HATCHELL - An occupational title, perhaps more correctly termed a "Hatcheller". The job involved combing fibres made from materials such as Hemp, which were used in rope-making.

HAVERS - Not an especially common surname, it is thought to originate from the Viking Norse word "Hafre" which identified a "food bag" carried by warriors. It is also likely to be the source for the fairly common modern word "Haversack"

HAYES - When derived from Irish origins, this family name is thought to have a similar root to the Irish/Gaelic version of Hughes and stems from the name "Haodha" meaning "fire or firey".

HAYWARD - The modern name possibly originates from the occupational title given to a man who was employed to manufacture and maintain fences and/or protect landowners hayfields. the similar sounding HAYWOOD is thought to originate from the location of an "enclosed" or "fenced" wood or forest, a place name which attached itself to those who lived there.

HEAD - Commonly used as a prefix to denote someone who is "in charge", the family name is said to have its foundation in the early English word "Hed".

HEALY - As a fairly common Irish family name, it is thought to originate from the Gaelic name "Healaighthe" which was thought to mean "creative, artistic or scientific". Alternatives might include Heally, Haley, etc.

HEATH - Thought to have been adopted from a natural feature in a local area where the person came from. Open moors or heath would have been a common and naturally reoccurring feature throughout Britain from the earliest times and as a result would have frequently been used as a personal title or designation.

HELLMAN - From the German for "Light Man", presumably relating to complexion rather than size.

HENRY - Forename of English monarchs which helped to increase its general popularity throughout Britain.

HENSMAN - The modern name might have its roots in the occupational title for a man who looked after and/or trained horses. A variant of the name may include HENMAN.

HERD - It is possible that this is a contracted version of the word "Herder", reflecting the actions and employment of individuals who cared and were responsible for the livestock which was in their care. This is reflected in the job title "Shepherd" - "someone who herds sheep" and applies equally well to those who looked after Cattle and Goats (Cowherd + Goatherd). Variations of this surname include Hurd and possibly Hurst.  

HEWER - An occupational title which may be the origin of the modern name and describing a man who was employed as a rock or stone-cutter.

HIGDEN - Known to have existed from the 14th Century, a monk called Ranulph Higden who was based at Chester's historic Norman Abbey was a noted religious author of the period. The Viking Norse word "Higg" is thought to identify someone who has been "injured" or "taken offence" by another's actions or words and might be a regional source for the later name prefix.. 

HIGGINSON - The family name "Higgs" is thought to be a derivation of the name "Hicks" which itself was thought to be a casual form of the first name Richard during the medieval period. In this case the family name Higginson would simply reflect that practice, as well as the relationship between father and son.

HIGHFIELD - Thought to denote a local geographical feature within a specific area, a local clergyman Thomas Highfield was recorded as the Abbot of Chester's historic Norman Abbey during the early 16th Century.

HILL - A name which might denote a local area, rather than a specific employment, family trade or ancestors name. Similarly a man called "Richard of the Peak" was a noted figure at Chester during the medieval period and it would therefore be commonplace for an individual to be known as "of the hill" or "from the hill".

HILLIARD - The family name is thought to have its roots in the female first name "Hildegard" which is said to be of Germanic origin, denoting conflict and strength and which first came to Britain with continental invaders. However, the surname may simply be a variant of the family name HILLIER which is shown below.

HILLIER - The name is said to originate from an occupational title used as an alternative for Tiler's and Slater's.

HOBBS - Thought to have originated as a derivation of the first name Robert which was corrupted by the early English peoples.

HODGES - Similarly, this family name is thought to derive from a corruption of the first name Roger which was brought to Britain by continental invaders.

HOGAN - An Irish family name which is thought to originate from "Hogain", a Gaelic word said to mean "young".

HOGGARD - Thought to originate from the occupational title for a pig drover. The family name HOGARTH is said to derive from a similar root, only in its case it was thought to mean "Pig Enclosure" with the "Garth" suffix arising from the Viking Norse word "Gardr" which was thought to be the root for the modern word "garden"

HOLDEN - Possibly originating from a geographical feature within an area, with "Hol" denoting a hollow and "Dun" meaning a hill or mound and which has attached itself to a man or family who lived at that particular location.

HOLLAND - The modern day surname might well have its early origins with the identification of Dutch merchants, travellers and seafarers as "Hollanders", a label which attached itself to them and their families. Alternatively, it might have another root in the early English word "Hol" meaning a hollow allied to the commonplace English word "Land".

HOLLINGWORTH - Possibly derived from the early English word "Holegn" meaning holly and "Worerth" denoting an enclosure or grove and originating from a particular feature or place in a specific geographical location.

HOLMES - A place called "Holme" was the site of a battle between Saxons and Danes in 902AD. The name itself is thought to derive from the word "Holegn" meaning Holly and identified a specific location within a geographical area.

HOLT - Originating from the Old English word meaning "wood" or "grove", which itself may derive from the German source shown below.

HOLZ - This 4 letter German word denotes "Wood" and is occasionally used as a family name prefix, although mostly in continental surnames.

HOOD - Perhaps similar to the legendary character Robin of Locksley, who was supposed to have been renamed "Robin of the hood" and which was eventually contracted to Robin Hood. A similar derivation is likely for the current family name.

HOOK - Possibly originating from an individual's physical characteristics (eg: Hook nose) or an implement which was commonly employed by that person.

HOOPER - The occupational title for a hoop-maker which were fitted to wooden flasks and barrels, but not to be confused with a Cooper, who actually produced the wooden barrels and flasks.

HOPKINS - Suggested that the name originates from the forename Robert which was corrupted to "Hob" and the addition of the suffix "Kin" denoting a family connection. Over time the name has been altered from Hobkin to its present day form Hopkins. The peculiarly Welsh linguistic trait of including a shortened version of AP or AB = "son of" into family names would tend to support this idea.

HORTON - The "ton" suffix is thought to derive from the Anglo Saxon word which identified a protected homestead or enclosure. The "Hor" prefix might have its roots in the Anglo Saxon word "Hors" which was an early spelling for "Horse", tying the modern name mean to a "Horse enclosure".

HORWOOD - The modern family name probably reflects a geographical location within a region, with the "Wood" suffix being derived from the early English word "wudu" meaning a stand of trees. The "Hor" prefix may have a similar root to the above, being derived from the early word for "Horse".

HOWARD - Possibly deriving from the Norse names Haward or Herward, the presence of the similarly sounding English rebel warlord "Hereward the Wake" who opposed the Roman's military invasion of Britain would seem to underline the ancient nature of such names, assuming of course that it is the actual source of this modern day surname. Variations of this name may include Howarth 

HOWELL - It has been suggested that this surname is an English version of the Welsh forename Hywel, which is thought to mean "attentive one".

HUBBARD - Possibly derived from the first name "Hubba". A Viking leader of that name was thought to have been in Britain in around 870AD.

HUDSON - As with the above name "Hudda" was thought to have been a common first name during the Anglo Saxon period and this later derivation simply associates father and son. It has also been suggested that "Hud" might be a contraction of the more recognisable first name Richard.

HUGHES - Thought to have come to Britain with the Normans, the 2nd Earl of Chester was Hugh Lupus (the Wolf) or otherwise known as Hugh Vawr (the Fat). Through common practice of associating father and son the early Norman forename has been altered to become the modern day version. (Hugh's son = Hughson = Hughes) The forename "Hugh" is thought to have originated in Germany, although the name might equally originate in Ireland, from the Gaelic name "Haodha" thought to mean "fire".

HUMPHREYS - Although equally used as both a forename and family name, the singular "Humphrey" would be appropriate for an individual. The surname "Humphreys" obviously reflects the practice of identifying and associating a son with his father ie: Humphrey's son = Humphreys

HUNTER - Many of Britain's noble families have regularly hunted game animals as a sport and it is to be supposed that their hunting parties would have been accompanied by professional huntsmen, who could locate the required quarry and arrange for its preparation before finding its way to the nobles dining table. As with other specialist craftsmen, their trade would have automatically attached itself to that particular individual.

HURST - Originating from the Old English word which identified a "wooded hill".

HUSSEY - This is generally thought to be associated with the old English word "huswif" meaning "mistress of the household", although quite how that might have carried forward to later generations is unknown. The prefix "Hus" is thought to be derived from the Viking word for "house".

HUTCHINS - "Hutch" is possibly a variation or derivative of the common forename Hugh, which is thought to have come to Britain with the French forces of William the Conqueror.

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