Hall of Names Is Coming to Dunster – A Historic Setting for Surname Heritage

A New Chapter in a Historic Village

We’re excited to share some news from Hall of Names HQ. We’re opening a brand-new shop in the beautiful medieval village of Dunster!

Known for its cobbled pavements, historic buildings and iconic castle, Dunster is a place steeped in the kind of heritage we’ve been celebrating for over 20 years. So, where better to open our next shop than in the heart of a village that feels like stepping back in time?

The Hall of Names Dunster store will be filled with our most popular personalised gifts. These include coats of arms, surname histories, hand-painted shields, and engraved glassware. All of these beautiful gifts are inspired by the stories behind your name.

Why Dunster?

Currently, the Hall of Names system is used at historic sites all over the UK. They include impressive sites such as Warwick Castle, Iverarary Castle, Ludlow Castle, Pembroke Castle, Leeds Castle, NTS Culloden Battlefield, Blenheim Palace and many more. Dunster is a natural fit for our business because it isn’t just a pretty place (although it certainly is that). But it’s a village rich in history, with roots stretching back to the Norman Conquest. The imposing Dunster Castle and the ancient Yarn Market form the backdrop to this beautiful setting. Plus, the centuries-old cottages also contribute to the unique character of this West Somerset gem.

But more than that, Dunster feels deeply connected to the values we hold dear at Hall of Names — tradition, identity, and legacy.

As a business rooted in West Somerset ourselves, we know the area well. The Quantock Hills are visible from our offices in Crowcombe. We see the changing leaves of oak, ash and beech trees from our windows, and our office Jack Russell, Willow, has taken up her spot by the heater. There’s a definite feeling of a new season ahead. We hope she settles in well to her new surroundings at our Dunster shop!

From our early beginnings at shows and events, bringing Hall of Names to Dunster feels like coming home — and we can’t wait to welcome both locals and visitors into the new space.

Behind the Scenes of the New Shop

It’s been a busy and exciting few weeks here as everything starts to come together. The signage has now been designed and installed, the carpet has been fitted, and electrics and broadband are all sorted. Supplies are on order and the shelves are beginning to take shape, with plenty of festive ideas in the pipeline as we head towards Christmas.

Even Wendy’s dad has been getting involved — he’s built the handmade counter top where we’ll be welcoming customers to the new space!

We’ve also had the pleasure of meeting many friendly faces from the village — fellow shopkeepers and Dunster locals — and we’ve felt such a warm welcome already. With the Dunster Winter Festival to look forward to, we’re excited to meet both villagers and visitors at what’s sure to be a fantastic community event.

What Will You Find at Hall of Names Dunster?

Our new shop will feature many of the personalised gifts you already know and love:

• Engraved crystal and glassware, including whisky tumblers, prosecco flutes, and brandy glasses
• Hand-painted shields, created by our in-house heraldry artist with over 40 years’ experience: browse shields & plaques
• Surname history scrolls, printed on parchment and available framed or unframed
• Compact gifts like keyrings

Everything will be available with the earliest coat of arms associated with the surname, based on our database of more than one million names.

A Place to Discover Your Name’s Story

Opening a shop in Dunster gives us the chance to connect with people face-to-face. This is something we’re really looking forward to! We love hearing family stories, and helping customers trace the meaning of their name. Seeing their reactions when they find their coat of arms or family motto is always a good part of the job!

We hope our new Dunster shop becomes a place where you can learn a little more about your name, find a thoughtful gift, or simply enjoy a piece of heritage that links the past to the present.

Follow the Journey

We’ll be sharing more details soon!

In the meantime, you can browse our collection of gifts online here or explore more about the meaning of your surname in our blog section, or by simply typing it into our search box at the top of each page.

We’re proud to continue telling the stories behind names — and we’re thrilled to be doing it from one of Somerset’s most historic locations. And we can’t wait to meet fellow retailers, locals and visitors alike.