Surname Halsey - Meaning and Origin

Unveiling the Mystery of My Ancestry: The Cultural and Historical Journey of the Halsey Surname

Diving into my ancestral roots through the iGENEA DNA test has been a fascinating journey that unveiled the riveting history of my surname, Halsey. Revealing its English origin, its association with geographical features, and the significant historical figures who bore this name, the results provided a rich tapestry of cultural and historical knowledge.

C. Halsey

Halsey: What does the surname Halsey mean?

Halsey is an English surname, of Norman-French origin. The surname is derived from the Old French term 'hal', meaning 'hall' or 'manor', and 'lac', meaning 'lake', so the name literally translates as 'hall near the lake', referring to a family who owned a manor or hall near a body of water. It began to be used as a surname in the 14th century, referring to a family's place of origin.

The given name 'Halsey', was borne by several notable historical figures, including the English naval commander Sir Francis Halsey, who was involved in two battles during the Anglo-Dutch Wars of the 17th century. Halsey is also used as a given name to this day.

Halsey is also the name of two villages in England and is shared by five townships in the United States. Halsey has become a popular surname in recent years, perhaps due to its simplicity and the historical figures it has listed amongst its bearers.

In the United States, it ranked 1185th in terms of popularity in 2019. The name is still fairly common in English-speaking countries, especially in the United Kingdom and the United States.

Halsey: Where does the name Halsey come from?

The last name Halsey is most commonly found in the United States. As of the 2020 U.S. Census, Halsey was the 1,902nd most common last name in the country, with an estimated 24,290 people bearing the name. It's a surname believed to have arisen in England, as the overwhelming majority of people with the surname today have British or Irish ancestry.

In the United States, the states with the highest numbers of people with the name are California, Texas, and Florida. New York City has one of the largest numbers of people with the Halsey surname. In the western United States, the name is most common in areas surrounding the Great Lakes, including Wisconsin, Indiana, and Michigan.

Outside of the United States, Halsey is a popular name in the United Kingdom. In the United Kingdom, the name is commonly associated with the British Isles, with people from England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland bearing the surname. It's particularly common in the Scottish Highlands and Lowlands.

Though it's relatively uncommon in Canada, there are still a significant number of Canadians with the last name. In Australia, individuals bearing the name Halsey are thought to be descendants of English immigrants who moved there in the 17th and 18th centuries, particularly to the New South Wales and Victoria regions. In South Africa, the name is associated with both English and Dutch immigrants.

Variations of the surname Halsey

Halsey is a surname derived from the Middle English term haluesey, which means “hollow island” or “island in the sea.” The name is most likely derived from the Old Norse word haesl, meaning “valley” or “sloping meadow.” It is thought to originate from a place name in southwest England.

The variants of Halsey include Halse, Halas, Hals, Halsy, Halsay, Hauxley, Haxley, Hauldey, Hauldy and Hawles. The surname has numerous spellings over time, including Halsy, Halcey and Halcee. In Ireland, the name is also spelled Healsy, Halsie and Heasly.

The Halsey family is thought to have had multiple branches in the United Kingdom and Ireland, with its earliest recorded mentions being in Yorkshire, England, in the mid-14th century. Later, the surname was widely found in Essex county, England. Throughout England and Ireland, the Halsey name can also be found in various shapes and forms, such as Halcey, Halsee, Halasy and Halse.

Other surnames of similar origin include Heilsey, Helcy, Halsam and Hawlesy. Some people bearing the Halsey name may have derived their surname from multiple origins, such as having a family ancestor who owned a property in a “hollow island,” or perhaps having a family with the name Halcey or Heasly at a time when spelling was not standardized.

Famous people with the name Halsey

• Ashley Nicolette Frangipane, more commonly known as Halsey, an American singer-songwriter, actress and activist.
• Charlotte Halsey, an American politician who served as the 16th Massachusetts State Treasurer in the early 1900s.
• Henry Harrington Halsey, a United States Navy admiral and Commander-in-Chief, US Atlantic Fleet in the 1950s.
• Robin Halsey, a former professional basketball player who played in the Women's Basketball League in the 1980s.
• Abraham Halsey, an American bootmaker and inventor who designed a machine for making rubber boots last century.
• George Halsey, an American actor, producer, and director who appeared in numerous films and television shows in the 1970s-1990s.
• Hoyt Halsey, a former professional baseball player who played for the Washington Senators, Philadelphia Phillies, and Chicago Cubs in the 1930s.
• Herbert Halsey, an American attorney and banker who served as a Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army during World War I.
• Richard Halsey, an American businessman and co-founder of the famous Halsey & Co. investment banking firm in 1906.
• Stephen Halsey, a professional golfer who competed on the PGA Tour and the British Open in the 1950s.

Other surnames

HalsebandHalsell