Where did the last name "Hales" orignate and what does it mean?

Answer 1

Hale, is from the Old English for Healh...which means nook or hollow

I'm guessing that the plural version, Hales, would mean Nooks or Hollows

Answer 2

Hey Sparklins...,

English

Spelling variations of this family name include: Hale, Hail, Hailes, Hayles, Hayle, Hales, Haile and many more.

First found in Cheshire where they were seated from very ancient times, some say well before the Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066 A.D.

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: Thomas and Sarah Haile settled in Virginia in 1623; Francis Haile settled in Virginia in 1680; Sarah Hails arrived in New York in 1822; Elizabeth Hale settled in Virginia in 1663.