Surname Hatfield - Meaning and Origin

Exploring Lineage Through iGENEA: A Personal Review on Tracing the Hatfield Surname

Explore a review on the iGENEA DNA test, detailing one user's fascinating journey to trace the history and origins of the Hatfield surname, transmitted through generations across the globe.

C. Hatfield

Hatfield: What does the surname Hatfield mean?

The surname Hatfield is of Anglo-Saxon origin, derived from various places in England named Hatfield. This name is locational and pertained to families living in or near these areas. It comes from the Old English words "hǣð," meaning "heath," and "feld," meaning "field." Therefore, Hatfield translates to "open land on the heath" or "heathland field," suggesting families with this surname initially resided near such landscapes. Like many other surnames, Hatfield would have been used to identify individuals based on their geographic location. Over time, it became a hereditary surname passed from one generation to the next. The name Hatfield has variations, including Hadfield and Heathfield, depending on regional dialects and pronunciation. One of the most famous bearers of this surname is the infamous Hatfield family involved in the Hatfield-McCoy feud in the United States during the late 19th century.

Hatfield: Where does the name Hatfield come from?

The surname Hatfield is of English origin and is believed to be a geographical or locational surname, derived from places named Hatfield in England. These can be found in various counties such as Herefordshire, Hertfordshire, and Yorkshire. The name Hatfield is derived from Old English words "hæþ" meaning "heath" or "heather" and "feld" meaning "open country" or "field", hence, Hatfield may mean "heathland" or "open land covered with heather".

The surname has expanded through English-speaking countries, thanks to migration and colonization. Today, Hatfield is commonly found in the United States, United Kingdom, South Africa, and Australia. Notably, in the U.S, it became particularly recognized due to the infamous Hatfield-McCoy feud, a family feud that took place between 1863 and 1891 on the West Virginia-Kentucky border. The name is now scattered across the U.S, with larger concentrations found in the Midwest and South.

Variations of the surname Hatfield

The surname Hatfield is primarily of Anglo-Saxon origin, derived from the name of a place meaning 'heathland open to the sky'. This name can have different spellings, including Hattfield, Hattfeld, Hadfield, Haddfeld, Haggfeld, Hatesfield, Hatfeld, Hethfield, Hethefeld, Hetfield, Heafield, and Heatfield.

The surname may also differ regionally based on local dialects and accents, leading to further variations. In addition, the surname can evolve over time, resulting in numerous variations which can confuse genealogical research. Variations such as de Hatfield, Haughtfield or Houghtfield may carry the same meaning.

Surname variations can also occur due to translation. For non-English speaking countries, Hatfield can be translated into the language of the country where the person is residing. For instance, in Spanish-speaking countries, this surname might be translated to "Campo de sombrero".

It's also possible for the surname Hatfield to be evolved through marriage, often with the combining of two surnames. For instance, Hatfield-Smith or Hatfield-Jones. Remember, it's always beneficial to consider all possible variants when researching family history and genealogy of the surname Hatfield.

Famous people with the name Hatfield

• Clay Hatfield: country singer-songwriter from Nashville, Tennessee
• William Anderson Hatfield: American politician, member of the West Virginia State Senate from 1909 to 1912
• Don Hatfield: American physicist from the University of Arizona
• Brian Hatfield: former Major League Baseball outfielder for the San Francisco Giants
• Charlie Hatfield: racehorse and two-time winner of the Kentucky Derby
• Amanda Hatfield: singer-songwriter and winner of the TV show The Voice UK
• Chad Hatfield: former professional wrestler better known by his ring name, Chad Brock
• Jim Hatfield: former Major League Baseball pitcher for the Arizona Diamondbacks
• Jack Hatfield: British Olympic cyclist
• Billy Hatfield: former Major League Baseball second baseman for the Chicago Cubs
• Mose Hatfield: family patriarch of the Hatfield clan, featured in the Hatfield-McCoy feud
• Maron Hatfield: professional football player in the National Football League
• RanEntry Hatfield: American short story writer and winner of the 2015 Pulitzer Prize
• Johnny Hatfield: former NASCAR driver and winner of the 2004 Busch Series Championship
• Robert Hatfield: former professional drag racer and 14-time National Hot Rod Association world champion

Other surnames

HaachHaackHaackeHaackerHaafHaaffHaagHaageHaagenHaagerHaagmannHaagmansHaagnerHaahsHaakHaakeHaakerHaakertHaamannHaameaHaanHaaneHaanenHaarbrandtHaarckeHaarkeHaarmannHaartjeHaarwaldtHaas