According to this I must be descended from hobbits.

"Hale: Name Meaning, English (also well established in South Wales): topographic name for someone who lived in a nook or hollow, "

Well, at least it wasn't a nook or cranny...

darn! You'd think "Hale" might mean 'hale' as in 'hale and hardy.' Whereas my mother's family surname, Hallett, actually does mean that, in part. But not the 'hal' part! Supposedly "Hallett" is derived from old Anglo-Norman name "Alard", derived from Old Germanic "Adelard". First half (Adal) means noble, 2nd half (ard) is from 'hard', meaning hale, hardy, hearty, etc.