Origin of the Name Hall
from
The Halls of New England
by Rev. David B. Hall, A.M.,
of Duanesburgh, NY
1883
The surname HALL is derived from at least three sources.
1. The Norwegian word for flint is hallr, its final letter is silent, and only indicates the nomitive case. The word also signified a hero, and on this account the Norwegians often gave it as a name to their children, and it finally became a surname. The old Norse hallr, hals and the Anglo-Saxon haele, haletta, signify the same, a hero.
The surname HAWES has the same derivation as HALL. HALLET and HENRY are diminutives of the same. HALLSE means the son of HENRY. The Norwegians settled quite extensively in Scotland, and hence the Scotch HALLs.
2.
The English Manor House is another source of the name HALL.
In Medieval documents the Manor House is called "Alle," "Halle,"
"De Aula," and "Del Hall."
The principal apartment was the hall, which was used as a petty court of justice, as well as the scene of entertainment, hence the tenent or chief servitor aquired the surname De AULA or Del HALL which was retained by his eldest son.
3. The word in Welsh for salt is hall, and a worker in salt is haller, and a dwelling near salt works or on low marshy ground near the sea is Halham, Halla or Halle, hence the origin of the name of the ancient Castle Halla, now City Halle, in Saxony, as extensive salt works are known to have been located there. Or the castle may have taken its name from its chief, who of course was haele, hero.
The great mass of English Halls undoubtedly are the posterity of the men of Halle who came in the successive Saxon invasions of England. They were De la Halle, which became a surname, and is now simply HALL.
William of Normandy, who conquered England, and his followers, "insulted dreadfully over the ancient Saxon nobility and spoiled their estates," whose descendants four hundred years later, still groaning under oppression, glad to embrace so good an opportunity for enjoying their ancient rights and love of liberty, emigrated in great numbers to America.
It is said the HALLs of Great Britain exceed in number any other name except those of Smith, Jones, Brown, and Robinson.
Also, Albert Wells, late of New York, informed me that he had in his possession 106 various specimens of HALL coat of Arms.