Hall of Names

Hall of Names: heraldry and personalised surname gifts

Hall of Names is a British company established in 2002 that combines genealogical and heraldic research with the sale of personalised gifts. Its activity is built around a database of more than one million surname histories, which include the origin and meaning of the surname and the oldest coat of arms or family crest associated with a bearer of the name.

The company presents itself as an expert in its field and notes that its products are not available in conventional retail. The company operates under the Hall of Names brand, registered by Swyrich Corporation and used under licence.

Personalised gift catalogue

The Hall of Names catalogue is organised into several categories: prints, crystal & glass, shields & plaques, watches & clocks, homeware, gift ideas, digital gifts, gifts for her and gifts for him.

Featured products include surname history and coat of arms prints, available in portrait and landscape formats, as well as Scottish clan history prints, Irish surname history prints and the A4 clan badge print. The company also sells double coats of arms and bespoke shields.

The crystal & glass category includes Mayfair-style engraved whisky glasses, coat of arms beer glasses, Mayfair wine glasses, Blenheim brandy glasses and Verona champagne or prosecco flutes. The watches & clocks section covers pocket watches, personalised wrist watches with coat of arms, pocket watches with colour coat of arms and crystal bevelled arch clocks and mechanical pocket watches.

Homeware and personal accessories include cushions with coat of arms, personalised tea towels, 3D crystal blocks, candles with coat of arms, white thermal mugs, key rings, bottle stoppers with family crest, coat of arms lighters, letter openers, tote bags, personalised bookmarks, family crest bottles, glass crescent frames, hoodies, wallets, polo shirts and vests with coat of arms.

The company also offers gifts aimed at history enthusiasts, designed for medieval festivals and historical reenactments, including a coat of arms sword.

Surname research and resources

The Hall of Names website allows you to search for a surname in its database to discover its history and coat of arms. The company explains that the family crest associated with a name may include elements such as a rampant unicorn, an eagle, a man in armour emerging from a tower with a battle axe or a sailing ship, and that the crest corresponding to the surname appears at the top of the print.

In addition to its products, the company publishes genealogical research resources and guides, such as the Titanic passenger list, a guide to finding the meaning of a surname and an article on the origin of surnames, which notes that there are at least 45,000 different surnames. It also maintains a blog with content on heraldry, gift ideas, family history research, events and traditions.

Shipping and payment methods

Hall of Names offers free standard UK delivery and the option to spread the cost of purchases interest-free. The shop accepts payments by Visa, Mastercard, PayPal and Klarna, and allows you to select the currency from pound sterling, US dollar, Australian dollar and New Zealand dollar.

Company details

Hall of Names Europe Ltd is based at Unit 3, Ashfield Business Park, Crowcombe, Taunton, Somerset, TA4 4AW, United Kingdom. The company also has a retailer programme.

Location and contact

Unit 3, Ashfield Business Park, Crowcombe, Taunton, Somerset TA4 4AW · Phone: +44 (0) 1984 632120 · Email: info@hallofnames.org.uk