hales

Hales is a surname of English origin. It is typically a toponymic name derived from places named Hales in England, which themselves are often derived from Old English halh meaning hollow or nook. The spelling Hale is closely related, and the two surnames are frequently treated as variants.

Geographically, the name originated in England and spread to other parts of the British Isles and to English-speaking countries through migration. Today it appears worldwide, especially in the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

Notable usage of the name Hales includes individuals across many fields, including politics, science, and the arts, though no single figure dominates the name. The surname also appears in fiction and in the names of places, institutions, and landmarks named after people bearing the surname Hales. In genealogical and historical contexts, Hales is commonly examined alongside related forms such as Hale and Haile.

See also

Hale (surname) for a closely related variant and other uses of the root name.