Hall
A very common English surname meaning someone who lived or worked at a manor house or hall.
The #45 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 758 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Hall comes from the word for a large house or manor house, especially the chief room or main building on an estate. In medieval records it appears in forms such as Atte Halle, Del Hall, and De Aula, all pointing to a person associated with "the hall." The surname could be given to someone who lived there, served there, or held the land. In some cases it may also have been used for people identified by a prominent hall in their locality.
History
The name is very common in England and became established early because halls were central places in medieval social life. Lower notes that it was especially frequent in London trade directories, which suggests that many bearers were not only landed people but also urban families with inherited surnames. It later spread widely to the United States and other English-speaking countries.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
In older feudal society, the hall was not just a dining room: it could also serve as a place for business and even a local court.
From the historical record
“a more coiTect form. HALL. A manor house. In medieval documents, Atte Halle, Del Hall, De Aula, &c. The principal apartment in all old mansions was the hall, and in feudal times it was a petty court of justice as well as the scene of entertainment. The chief servitor when the lord was resident, or the tenant Avhen…”
— Patronymica Britannica: a dictionary of the family names of the United Kingdom