Show ContentsBushaw History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Bushaw is of Anglo-Saxon origin and came from when the family lived in Derbyshire, where they were found since the early Middle Ages before the Norman Conquest in 1066.

We should take a moment to explore one source's claim that the name came from "Bagshot; a location name in Surrey, Wiltshire. " [1]

As far as the chapelry of Bagshot in Surrey is concerned, "this place, [was] formerly called Holy Hall. It was once a residence of the kings of England, who had a mansion here, and a park, which was laid open after the civil war in the reign of Charles I.: the house was occupied by the late Duke of Gloucester. On the borders of Bagshot Heath are some handsome villas. " [2] So one cannot deny that this would an agreeable and noble place to claim descent, the fact that "Holy Hall" was the original name of the chapelry seems to negate the possibility. That leaves the hamlet of Bagshot in Wiltshire as a possibility. We doubt this possibility too, as by the late 1800s, the hamlet's population was only 194. [2] Accordingly, we must defer to the aforementioned Derbyshire as the most likely place of origin.

Early Origins of the Bushaw family

The surname Bushaw was first found in Derbyshire. The first record was of Nicholas Bagshawe who married Alice of the Hall. He was forester to the King. He acquired the lands of Wormhill, and later built Wormhill Hall. "Derbyshire is the great home of the Bagshaws, who have preserved a distinguished name since the 15th century, when they resided at Abney and Wormhill." [3]

Kirby's Quest notes some very early spellings in early rolls: Oliver de Bogeschaghe, Somerset and Richard de Boggeschaghe, Somerset 1 Edward III (during the first year of Edward III's reign) [4]

Nicholas Bagshawe and Humphry Bagshawe were both listed in the Calendar of Proceedings in Chancery, temp. Elizabeth I. [5] In the 13th century the name of De Baggesoure occurred in Shropshire. [3]

Early History of the Bushaw family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bushaw research. Another 154 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1563, 1589, 1593, 1604, 1625, 1628, 1629, 1634, 1640, 1644, 1657, 1662, 1671, 1696, 1702, 1721 and 1886 are included under the topic Early Bushaw History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bushaw Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Bushaw are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. Scribes and monks in the Middle Ages spelled names they sounded, so it is common to find several variations that refer to a single person. The variations of the name Bushaw include: Bagshaw, Bagshawe, Bagshott, Bagshot, Bagshote and others.

Early Notables of the Bushaw family

Distinguished members of the family include Sir Richard Bagshaw, Sheriff of Derby and Nottingham; Edward Bagshaw (or Bagshawe) the elder (ca. 1589-1662), an English author and politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1640 to 1644, supporter of the Royalist cause in the English Civil War.Christopher Bagshaw (d. 1625?), was an English priest who came of a Derbyshire family. "Before going to Oxford he appears to have studied for a short time at Cambridge. "In 1593 he was confined with other priests and gentlemen in Wisbeach Castle. His fellow prisoners held him at first in great...
Another 98 words (7 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Bushaw Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Bushaw family to Ireland

Some of the Bushaw family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 53 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Bushaw family

Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Bushaw or a variant listed above: Henry Bagshaw who settled in New England in 1751; Ben Bagshaw settled in Maryland in 1699; William Bagshaw who settled in Pennsylvania in 1867.


Contemporary Notables of the name Bushaw (post 1700) +

  • Scott Bushaw (b. 1984), American director and actor
  • Ronnie Bushaw, American visual effects specialist, known for I Am Legend (2007), Spider-Man 3 (2007) and The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005)


The Bushaw Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Forma floss
Motto Translation: Beauty is a flower.


  1. Barber, Henry, British Family Names London: Elliot Stock, 62 Paternoster Row, 1894. Print.
  2. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  3. Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
  4. Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
  5. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)


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