Clan Hall facts for kids

The Clan Hall is a family group with roots tracing back to the Normans, who came from Normandy in France. It's important to know that even though some myths say they were Scottish, the Halls were not originally considered Scots and don't have a clan chief recognized by Scottish law today.

History of the Hall Family

The name "Hall" is a Norman surname. The Hall family first appeared in Lincolnshire, England. They were given land there after the Norman Conquest in 1066.

The Halls were actually part of the FitzWilliam family. They lived at Greatford Hall in Lincolnshire. A younger son of this family, Arthur FitzWilliam, was called 'Hall' to tell him apart from his older brother. Arthur Hall is the first person recorded with this name around the year 1090. The family continued in Lincolnshire and married into other important families like the Crispins and the Earls of Chester. In Cheshire, England, some Halls were a smaller branch of the Kingsley Halls.

Around 1340, the Hall family moved north into Scotland. They were invited by Earl David of Huntingdon, who later became King David II of Scotland. In Scotland, they received land in Berwickshire, specifically an area called Glenryg.

The first Hall of Fulbar in Renfrewshire was Thomas Hall, a surgeon. King Robert II gave him land in 1370 because of his loyal service. Adam Hall, an ancestor of the Fulbar family, was at the Battle of Flodden in 1513. The main line of the Hall of Fulbar family ended in 1550.

The Border Reivers

The Hall family was one of the sixty main "riding families" of the Scottish Marches. These families were known as Border Reivers. Reivers were groups who raided across the border between Scotland and England, taking cattle and other goods. The Halls were involved in these raids, just like other border clans.

During a "Day of Truce" (a time when raiding was supposed to stop), someone complained that two Halls had stolen 120 sheep. Like all Reiving families, the Halls often felt more loyal to their family name than to either England or Scotland. The song "The Death of Parcy Reed" tells a story where the Halls betray Parcy Reed, allowing him to be murdered. This event added to their reputation and eventually led to them being forced to leave the Marches.

Traditional Homes of the Halls

The main homes of the Hall family were in Redesdale, East Teviotdale, and Liddesdale. Other Halls lived in places like Aynstrother, Glenryg, Garvald, Irvide, Glasgow, Sancharmvr, and Perth.

The Battle of Otterburn

The village of Otterburn, Northumberland is famous for a battle and a traditional song. It has an old Pele tower, which is a small castle-like building. This tower was once owned by the Umfravilles and later by the Hall family. A Hall known as 'Mad Jack Hall' lived at Otterburn Hall, which is now a hotel. He faced severe consequences for his part in the 1715 Jacobite Rebellion.

The 17th Century

By the 1600s, many branches of the Hall family had grown in both England and Scotland. Important members included Lord Llanover, Sir John Hall, and several bishops. The family also continued to have interests and homes at Skelton Castle in Yorkshire, Greatford Hall in Lincolnshire, and Gravell House in Middlesex. The Hall family of Berwickshire was also notable during this time.

Clan Hall Society

The Clan Hall Society was started in Pikeville, Kentucky, in August 1993. It began with 23 members. Atlas D. Hall was the first President. The society has grown and now has members all over the United States. They have a special tartan called Hall 1992. Their emblem shows a talbot head (a type of dog) over three cranes. The family motto is "Per Ardua ad Alta," which means "Through difficulties to Heaven." The society welcomes members of the Hall, Halle, Haule, Haul, Hal, DeAule, Haw, Crispin, Collingwood, and Fitzwilliam families, as well as anyone interested in Border Reiver history.