Haslen

This interesting name is of Olde English and Anglo-Saxon origin. It is topographical and used to describe someone who lived near or by a hazel copse. The derivation is from the pre 7th Century word "haeslin", and appears frequently as the first element in a number of placenames such as Haslingden in Lancashire, (hazel valley), Haslington in Cheshire, (village among hazels), and Heslington in Yorkshire, another village amongst the hazels. Topographical surname were among the earliest created, since both natural and man-made features in the landscape provided easily recognisable distinguishing names in the small communities of the Middle Ages. The surname can be found as Haslen, Haslin, Heslin(g) and Hessling and was first recorded in the latter half of the 13th Century (see below). Listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex are Walter atte Haselyng (1327) and Peter atte Heselyng (1332). On September 18th 1681, Joseph, son of Joseph and Martha Hasling, was christened at the church of St. Giles, Cripplegate, London. A coat of arms granted to the family has the balzon of a red shield charged with an fess embattled between three gold talbots passant. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Robert Hasling. This was dated 1275, in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire, during the reign of King Edward 1st, known as "The Hammer of the Scots", 1272-1307. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.