About Us

Hall of Names researchers have been delving into the history of surnames since 1971, and we established Hall of Names here in the UK in 2002. We are an independent business, and we operate from our head office in West Somerset’s beautiful Quantock Hills, which is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty – lucky us!

Our database now contains over a million surnames with their earliest-known coats of arms, as well as a vast collection of Scottish Clan and Irish surname histories, as well as an extensive collection from France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Portugal and beyond.

We began by travelling the UK to attend events such as shows and country fairs, printing our scrolls to order for visitors. It quickly became obvious just how much interest there is in family research – our customers always have stories to tell! It’s always interesting to see if there are people sharing the surname who were convicts to Australia, or even aboard the Titanic.

Over the years, the business has developed apace. We now offer an extensive online collection of personalised gifts to suit all occasions, and we have retailers at many of the UK’s leading historic attractions. (Click here to view list of retailers). We listen to our customers and are always keen to explore new ideas to keep our ranges fresh and as individual as our clientele.

We have established ourselves as leaders in the field of surname histories, and our reputation for excellent quality and service is second to none. We regularly work with industry experts to provide blogs, competitions and offers, so don’t forget to regularly check the website and facebook or sign up to receive our online newsletters.

Meet The Team

Wendy

Wendy Spencer

Company director

I’m focused on making sure we stay ahead as market leaders in our sector. I work closely with our brilliant network of retailers across the UK, helping them get the most from our products. A big part of my role is developing strategies that support our growth, as well as sourcing new and exciting products that we hope our customers will love just as much as we do.

Every day is completely different. I really enjoy making our customers happy and I am very proud to have seen the business grow so much since it was set up.

Jo Laver

Sales and marketing manager

Jo joined us after a successful career in regional press and magazines, bringing with her a wealth of experience in promotion. Since then, she’s played a key role in helping Hall of Names grow as the UK’s leading supplier of surname history prints.

She looks after all things marketing and PR – from writing our brochures and website content to organising promotions with magazines and gift websites across the country. Jo also manages our social media, works closely with our retailers, and helps make sure our message reaches the right audiences through engaging campaigns and strong partnerships.

Jo’s passion for clear, creative communication has helped us win Somerset Business Awards for sales and marketing – and she’s always coming up with new ways to connect with our ever-growing community of stockists and customers.

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My favourite part of the job is its diversity. One day I might be writing an article about heraldry, the next I am helping to promote Hall of Names in a top-selling magazine – there is always something new on the horizon.”

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