The Origins of the Heckels Surname

Heckels or its alternative spelling Heckles are a family who are known to have been living in North East England for at least three hundred years. There is a continuing oral history in the family which suggests that the Heckels originate from the low countries. While such handed down "memories" are often inaccurate they are consistent with the fact that in Flanders one of the steps in preparing flax for actual weaving was hackling, or in Flemish/Dutch "vlas hekelen". This phrase was used until the early part of the twentieth century in certain parts of Flanders along the Leie and Schelde rivers where flax was still processed at that time. Flax has been grown for centuries in Flanders. The fibre was obtained by first uprooting rather than cutting to avoid damage to the fibres. The plants were then piled in the fields to dry and then allowed to undergo partial decomposition or "retting" which then permitted separation of the fibre from the woody portions by hackling (combing) to yield relatively long and straight fibres. These were used in the manufacture of various threads employed in the bookbinding and shoe industries, and in such products as twine, fishing nets, and laces. Flax fibres were also used extensively in various types of linen cloth and other fabrics. The economic importance of Flax in medieval times resulted in a thriving flax trade between England and Flanders and many Flemmings settled in England as a result. The earliest known record of a Flax associated surname in England is that of William le Hekeler who in 1297 AD, during the reign of King Edward, was listed at the Court of Wakefield Manor in Yorkshire. However it is during the 16^th century that Protestant religious refugees from the Low Countries helped to establish the linen industry in England. It is therefore likely that today’s Heckels are descendants either of William le Heckler or the others who subsequently came to England as part of the Flax trade. However there is no documentary evidence for this and the earliest traces are records of members of the family living in North East England particularly around Newcastle on Tyne.