Hear, hear or here, here?

Factual Questions
1

There are too many conflicting sources for me to sort this one out. So, when trying to “second” or agree with something, is the proper spelling:

“Hear, hear!” As in, “hey, everyone - hear what this person had to say, because I agree with it and/or think it’s a good point.”

or

“Here, here!” As in, “here I am and I agree with you?”

or even

“Hear here!” As in, “hey, listen up in this general direction, 'cause it’s important!”

This is almost too mundane and pointless for GQ, but there must be a factual answer, right?

2

Google’s first result for “hear, hear” is the Straightdope column :stuck_out_tongue:

3

Well first of all, I think we dispensed with “the exception that proves the rule” a while ago. Plus (and no, I hadn’t found it before, for some odd reason) it’s a singularly unsatisfying column. Why is it so and how long has it been so and how do we know for sure that it’s so? *That’s * what I can’t find out.

Maybe this should go to Staff Reports, since there was a column about it, but the column wasn’t the origin of my question, nor do people generally offer real answers in that forum.

Thanks for the link, though!

4

From the Word Maven:

5

“Hear, hear,” of course, comes from “Hear ye, hear ye”, as in “Hear ye, hear ye, the district court in and for the District of Easthampton is now in session, the Honorable Joe Blow presiding.”

A related term used in this same situation is “Oyez, oyez.”

6

gee, I just love to watch those Brits in Parliament—not only 'cause they say “hear,hear”, but also because:

Where else to you get to see grown men stamping their feet?