(origin: Local) From a village in Gloucestershire, and also a town in Norfolk, England. In Cor. Br., it signifies low, level lands washed by a river or the sea; a moor. Playfair says, "The word Hales is a compound one, being formed of the Saxon Hale or Heile, strong, healthy, and ley, etc. Others derive it from Halig, Saxon, holy.

Arthur, William (1857) An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. New York: Sheldon, Blakeman. Public Domain.

HALES. A town in Norfolk. Roger de Halys in 19 Hemy II. gave a tenement which he possessed in that place to the x\bbey of Baungej\ From him the Haleses of Woodchurch and Bekesbourne, co. Kent, and of Coventry, baronets, are presumed to have sprung. See Burke's Ext. Barts.

Lower, Mark A (1860) Patronymica Britannica: a dictionary of the family names of the United Kingdom. London: J.R. Smith. Public Domain.