Surname hald - Meaning and Origin
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hald: What does the surname hald mean?
The last name Hald is of English origin and is a variant of Hall, derived from places called “Hall” in England prior to 1000 A.D. The word hall is an old English word meaning "sloped land," and was the name of the fields near these manor houses where crops were grown. Many places in England now have the root word “Hall” in their names, including Lancaster, Bilgow, and Ilford.
The Hald surname likely became established in the 14th century, when the popularity of last names began to grow. As England began to be populated by more and more people, it became necessary to have surnames for easier record-keeping. By the 15th century, the holders of the Hald surname had spread to London and beyond, bringing their name with them wherever they journeyed.
The Halds are a large and extended family spread across the United Kingdom. Generations of Hald have left a lasting impact on the English landscape, contributing to the growth of their local communities and making a lasting contribution at the national level. Today, the Hald surname is associated with business ownership, public service, inventors, artists, and academics – a testament to the family’s impact on British life and culture.
Order DNA origin analysishald: Where does the name hald come from?
The surname "Hald" is found across multiple countries around the world, though it is most common in countries of Northern Europe. It is most notably found in Denmark, where over 2% of the population has the surname. In Norway, it is also prevalent, making up around 0.7% of the population.
The surname is also very common in Estonia, where it is the 20th most common last name, with nearly 5,000 individuals possessing that name. In Scotland, it is relatively rare, but still found in some areas.
The surname was among the most popular family names in the Middle Ages, when nobles would give their daughters a surname based on their father's estate. As such, "Hald" was likely derived from a place name. It is a compound word, believed to be derived from the words "holt" (meaning ‘wood’) and ‘dal’ (meaning ‘valley’). This suggests that the original family the surname originated from once lived in or near a wooded area.
Today, the surname is most likely to appear in its Scandinavian forms, such as ‘Halldórsson’ or ‘Haldorsen’ in Norway, or ‘Hald’ in Denmark.
Variations of the surname hald
The surname Hald can be spelled in various ways and have numerous variant surnames, depending on an individual's regional background.
In English, the variant spellings of Hald include: Hald, Hold, Hould, Hauld, Hawld, Haulde.
In Scandinavian countries, the surname is spelt Halld, Halldorsson, Halldorsdottir, Halldorolfson.
In German, it is spelt Hold, Hohlde, Holte, Holtkötter.
In the Netherlands, it is spelt Hallden, Halen.
In France, it is spelt Hault, Haldo, Halte, Haut.
In Scotland, it is spelt Hall, Hajd, Hajdas, Haijde, Heyde.
In Wales, it is spelt Heald, Halld.
In Poland, it is spelt Halo, Halolaj.
In Hungary, it is spelt Halid, Halldi.
Other variants may exist depending on the regional background of an individual. The earliest known bearer of the surname is Saxon translation of the Scandinavian Halldor, which is derived from the Germanic personal name Halda, which means ‘roc’ or ‘bold hero’.
Famous people with the name hald
- Christina Hald – Danish top model and fashion designer
- Merete Hald – Danish politician and member of the European Parliament
- Einar Hald – Danish Olympic dressage rider
- Kajsa Hald – Danish model and former beauty queen
- Anders Hald – Danish literary historian
- Roger Hald – English jazz musician and composer
- Emma Hald – Danish-Norwegian actress
- Jens Hald – Danish painter
- Sven Hald – Danish linguist and anthropologist
- Viggo Hald – Danish actor