Halliday Surname History in Scotland

Variants of the Name that May Have Been a Battle Cry

Jun 2, 2009

The name Halliday and its many variations is frequently cited as a battle cry from ancient times in Scotland.

It is said that a Gaelic (Celtic) clan of Annandale believed that the days when they made their raids across the English border were holy days. The words they called out derive from the Old English, ‘haligdaeg’ which is a combination of ‘halig’ (holy) and ‘daeg’ (day).

Halliday Surname before Recorded History

The Hallidays were prominent in the valley of the Annan River in the hills of Dumfries, southern Scotland from ancient times. Halliday is a seasonal surname originally given to someone born on a holy day.

When the Roman legions entered the valley they discovered that the people had a very different clan system. It was not feudal, but similar to freehold tenure. Tradition has it that the Romans named them ‘the allabil’, a Latin term meaning ‘those who cultivate their own land’.

Through ancient manuscripts, researchers confirmed the first documented history of the name in northern England and lowland Scotland. The Scottish King, Duncan (1034-1040), granted land near Moffat to a Halliday chieftain. There is a written record as early as 1297 of Chieftain Thomas Halliday who built a castle or strong tower in the area at Corehead.

Located near the source of the River Annan, it was his place of residence and seat. It stood on a rise protected by the Great Hill to the north and commanded the southern view. Thomas Halliday’s influence in the territory was greatly enhanced by his marriage to the sister of legendary Scottish hero William Wallace.

Surname Origins and Derivations

Surnames originated and developed over time as duplication of first names became problematic in growing villages and towns. Also, the necessity for legal documents increased in society. The names derived from many different sources.

Variants of Halliday Family Name

In Medieval times, names were spelled out according to pronunciation and intuition. From early records (1177) to recent documents, the name has been spelled: Halidei, Halidai, Holidaie, Holladay, Haliday, Holiday, Holyday, Halladey, Halleday, Halliday, and Halladay. Until recent times, clerks, officials, and priests wrote names into records as they heard them pronounced. The same family’s surname was frequently spelled differently in several records. Genealogists and family historians need to be aware of this, and check for spelling variations during their searches.

The Halliday tartan weave is based upon the old traditional Border shepherd's check. Its colors are based upon the green and heather hills.

A Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Commoners of Great Britain and Ireland Enjoying Territorial Possessions Or High Official Rank: But Uninvested with Heritable Honours by John Burke, Published by Colburn, 1835

The copyright of the article Halliday Surname History in Scotland in Surname Histories is owned by Kathleen Airdrie. Permission to republish Halliday Surname History in Scotland in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.