The Hales surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 8,363 people carried this name — #4,240 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 35,200 people counted. That is up 8% from 7,743 in 2000.

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What the name means

The meaning of the Hales surname

A topographic surname from Old English.

From Old English halh (“hollow, nook”).

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary (en.wiktionary.org) — entry «Hales» (English), by Wiktionary contributors · licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0) · excerpt, lightly adapted.

As an English and Welsh surname

Bardsley classes it as a local name, from where the family lived: ‘of Hales’.

An early record he cites: Richard de Hales, Shropshire, 1273 — Hundred Rolls.

His entry covers Hales and Hailes.

From Charles W. Bardsley, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, with Special American Instances (London: Henry Frowde, 1901), p. 349 · public domain.

In France’s civil register

France’s register of deaths holds 45 people named Hales.

19 of them were born outside France. Those born in France came from 6 départements, most often Eure.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they were born

Born outside France 19
Eure 8
Hauts-de-Seine 7
Paris 5
Sarthe 3
Manche 2
Oise 1

Fichier des personnes décédées, INSEE — Licence Ouverte 2.0 · deaths recorded in France since 1970, by place of birth.

In the Nordic population registers

21 people named Hales is counted in Sweden.

Sweden’s figure is from 31 December 2022, the last count Statistics Sweden published.

Counted, by country

Sweden (2022) 21

Own calculations based on data from Statistics Sweden (SCB), surnames with at least two bearers, 31 December 2022 — CC BY 4.0 (names with 20 or more bearers shown).

Among the farmers of England and Wales, 1880s

Hales was found among the farmers of Northamptonshire: 15 in every 10,000.

Guppy counted the farmers listed in each county’s directory and recorded a name only where it reached about 7 in every 10,000; where it does not appear, it was rarer than that, not absent.

Where it concentrates, on the map

Per 10,000 farmers, by county

Northamptonshire 15

H. B. Guppy, «Homes of Family Names in Great Britain» (London, 1890), alphabetical list of English and Welsh names — public domain · farmers in Kelly’s Post Office Directories of the 1880s, per 10,000 farmers in each county.

In print

Hales in American newspapers,
1897–1922.

Newspaper page from The Herald carrying the name Hales
The Herald 1897-05-30
Newspaper page from The Morning Tulsa Daily World carrying the name Hales
The Morning Tulsa Daily World 1922-05-06

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain.

In print

Hales in Australian newspapers,
1820s–2000s.

33,510 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Hales. The most, 5,535, date from the 1930s. New South Wales has the most articles, but weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, the name stands out most in Tasmania, at 3.1 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

New South Wales 7,833
Tasmania 6,397
Victoria 5,864
South Australia 5,596
Western Australia 5,158
Queensland 2,552
ACT (Canberra) 54
Northern Territory 33

Trove, National Library of Australia (trove.nla.gov.au) · articles in its digitised newspapers that name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Hales.

Who carried it

People named Hales,
with a public archive behind them.

  • John Hales d. 1608
  • Christopher Hales d. 1541 · judge
  • Laura Harris Hales d. 2022 · writer
  • Stephen Hales d. 1574 · politician
  • Stephen Hales d. 1394 · politician
  • John Hales d. 1600 · politician

Wikidata (CC0) · 10 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Hales,
in the records of 7 countries.

Soldiers, farmers, migrants and neighbours who carried the name and left a trace in public archives. Everyone shown here died long ago or was born more than a century ago.

United States573 records

573 records of the Hales name in the United States
  • U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 241
  • Passenger arrivals in the United States, 1820–1912 119
  • Other U.S. records 213
  1. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record John Hales

    Born 1898 in Czechoslovakia. Enlisted 1942 at Fort Jay Governors Island, New York; shoe factory worker. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1985, buried at Calverton National Cemetery, New York.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record William Hales

    Arrived at New York in 1885 aboard the City of Chicago from Liverpool and Queenstown, aged 25; laborer. From Kent, England; bound for Michigan.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)
  3. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record Raymon Draper Hales

    Born 1942; from Springville, Utah. U.S. Army; killed in action 1969 in Thua Thien, South Vietnam.

    U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain)

Showing 3 of 573 records for Hales in the United States.

Counts: U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Vietnam Veterans Memorial, photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden, 2009 (public domain).

Australia978 records

978 records of the Hales name in Australia
  • Tasmanian Names Index 355
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 348
  • Other Australian records 275
  1. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Sarah Ann Hales

    Died 1897 in Clarence, Tasmania, aged 79. Will registered in Tasmania in 1897.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Lucy Jane Hales

    Born 1873 in Port Sorell, Tasmania. Married 1889 in Ulverstone, Tasmania, aged 16.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  3. An 1829 etching of convicts being rowed out to the prison ship York in Portsmouth Harbour
    Pictured: convicts going on board a prison ship, 1829
    Transportation record Mary Anne Hales

    Transported to New South Wales aboard the Competitor, arriving 1828; ticket of leave 1837. Native of St Helena.

    Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY)

Showing 3 of 978 records for Hales in Australia.

Counts: Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · State Library of Western Australia (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain); Prison-ship in Portsmouth Harbour, with the convicts going on board, etching by Edward William Cooke, 1829, Royal Museums Greenwich (public domain).

Canada44 records

44 records of the Hales name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 17
  • Mountain View Cemetery, Vancouver 8
  • Other Canadian records 19
  1. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Chas Hales

    Came to Ontario in 1871 aboard the Niger, landing at Quebec, bound for Hamilton, Ontario; English.

    Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario.
  2. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Helen Hales

    Died 1995, aged 75; buried at Brookside Cemetery, Winnipeg, Manitoba.

    City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg.
  3. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Sarah Elizabeth Hales

    Died 1935 in Wolfville, Kings, Nova Scotia.

    Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia.

Showing 3 of 44 records for Hales in Canada.

Counts: Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0).

United Kingdom42 records

42 records of the Hales name in the United Kingdom
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 25
  • St James's burial ground, Euston (London), 1789–1853 12
  • Other British records 5
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Harriet Hales

    Died 1979, aged 61; buried at Logie Cemetery, Stirling, Scotland.

    Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
  2. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Frederic Rowe Hales

    Will proved in 1904; of Old Colwyn, Carnarvon.

    National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0)
  3. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record R. Hales

    Tank Corps. Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1918.

    National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)

Showing 3 of 42 records for Hales in the United Kingdom.

Counts: National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. · National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0) · Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0).

Netherlands25 records

25 records of the Hales name in the Netherlands
  • Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths) 16
  • Dutch population registers 6
  • Dutch church registers before 1811 3
  1. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Maria Justina Hales

    Born 1879 in Rotterdam. Married in 1902 in Rotterdam. Died 1952 in Rotterdam, aged 73.

    Open Archives, Stadsarchief Rotterdam (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Richard Charles Hales

    Born 1875 in Rotterdam. Married in 1899 in Rotterdam. Died 1931 in Rotterdam, aged 55.

    Open Archives, Stadsarchief Rotterdam (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Harold Hales

    Died 1944 in Roosendaal.

    Open Archives, Brabants Historisch Informatie Centrum (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 25 records for Hales in the Netherlands.

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0).

New Zealand17 records

17 records of the Hales name in New Zealand
  • Christchurch City cemetery records 16
  • Thames-Coromandel District cemetery records 1
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Alfred James Hales

    Died 1972, aged 89; buried at Ruru Lawn, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Caroline Hales

    Died 1907, aged 41; buried at Sydenham Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Alfred Gorden Hales

    Died 1997, aged 72; buried at Memorial Park Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 17 records for Hales in New Zealand.

Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0) · Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

France8 records

8 records of the Hales name in France France's national death register, 1970–2001
  1. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Cyrille Hales

    Born 1925 in Saussay-la-Campagne (Eure); died 1977 in Créteil (Val-de-Marne).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  2. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Hadjila Hales

    Born 1945 in Algeria; died 1990 in Essey-lès-Nancy (Meurthe-et-Moselle).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  3. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Ignace Desire Hales

    Born 1938 in Saussay-la-Campagne (Eure); died 1997 in Grigny (Essonne).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Showing 3 of 8 records for Hales in France.

Counts: Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Death register of Nice, 1930, Archives départementales des Alpes-Maritimes (public domain).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Hales.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Hales is.
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Every page in the index is free and stays free. The Heritage Volume is the long form: the full paper trail, the arms, the crossing — bound, and yours.

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