Haslam

This interesting surname is of Anglo-Saxon origin, and has two possible sources. The first being from a topographical name for someone who lived by a group of hazel trees. The derivation is from the Old English pre 7th century word "hoeslum", meaning hazel trees. The second source is locational from a place called Haslam in the county of Lancashire. The derivation is from "hoeslum", as before. Locational surnames were developed when former inhabitants of a place moved to another area, usually to seek work, and were best identified by the name of their birthplace. Spelling being at best erratic, and local dialects very thick, often, as with this surname, lead top the development of "sounds like" spellings. In this case the surname development since the Middle Ages includes Hugh de Hesellym of Lancashire in 1246, and Benjamin Aslin of Suffolk in 1674. The modern surname can be found in many forms including Haslam, Haslum, Jaslem, Haslen, Hesleham, Aslam, Aslum and Aslen and Aslin. Among the many recordings in Lancashire are the marriages of George Haslam and Dorothy Sharples on August 16th 1594, and that of Geffray Aslam and Jany Frost on July 24th 1613 at Bury. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Hugh de Haslum. This was dated 1246, in the Assize Rolls of Lancashire, during the reign of King Henry 111rd of England, 1216 - 1272. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was sometimes known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.