Hazeley

This interesting and unusual name is of English locational origin from either "Hazeleigh", in Essex which was recorded as "Halesleia" in the Domesday Book of 1086 or "Hazeley" in Hampshire, which appeared as "Heishulla" in the Pipe Rolls of 1167. The former place in Essex is composed of the old English personal name "Haegel" which is related to the old Norse personal name "Hagall" and the Germanic personal name "Hagilo", plus the second old English element "leah", a forest or forest clearing. The place in Hampshire, derives from either the initial old English "ghaeg", enclosure, plus the second element "hyll", the old English word for hill, or "hig, hey", hay, and "so", mire. Hence this placename may translate as the "enclosure on the hill" or the "wet haylands". The London Church Registers record the following entries: Ciceley Hasley was christened at St. Giles Cripplegate on September 1st 1616; and James Hazley was christened at St. Mary Whitechapel, Stepney on January 31st 1759. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Henry Hasloy (marriage to Ann Hire), which was dated June 1st 1595, at St. Mary the Virgin, Aldermanbury, London, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1st known as "Good Queen Bess", 1558 - 1603. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.