Hi Just wanting to know if the surname 'HALL' is a Welsh name and is that a family which would of been living in the Cilfrew - Cadoxton Juxta Neath area please? I am having some problems Bringing this HALL name into my family of JONES. What are the chances that the hand written certificate could of been written wrong? Not sure of any other explanation. Many thanks Karen

Hi Karen According to John & Sheila Rowlands "The Surnames of Wales" it is in general an common English name, but can also be Welsh and may well have been (in the Welsh case) derived from Howell or Howells. They state that it may well have originally derived from a person who worked at, or so dwelt in, a hall. Howell or Howells was popular in coastal Glamorganshire through Pembrokeshire. Cheers Graham Melbourne Oz