Show ContentsEllway History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Ellway family

The surname Ellway was first found in Nottinghamshire where the family name was first referenced in the 13th century when they held estates in that shire and held a family seat at Habelsthorp.

Later, evidence was found that some of the family moved to Throcking in Hertfordshire. "The church contains several monuments to the Elwes family, who formerly had a mansion here; one of the memorials, executed by Nollekens, is of very superior design." 1

Early History of the Ellway family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ellway research. Another 175 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1096, 1234, 1455, 1476, 1487, 1504, 1510, 1547, 1600, 1615, 1628, 1629, 1640, 1657, 1677, 1679, 1684, 1685, 1687, 1690, 1698, 1706, 1713, 1714, 1717, 1722, 1750 and 1789 are included under the topic Early Ellway History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ellway Spelling Variations

The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries; therefore,spelling variations are common among early Anglo-Saxon names. As the form of the English language changed, even the spelling of literate people's names evolved. Ellway has been recorded under many different variations, including Elwes, Elwas, Elwish, Elwash, Elweys, Elway, Ellway, Elways, Ellway, Elwesh, Elway, Elwill, Elwiss and many more.

Early Notables of the Ellway family

Distinguished members of the family include Sir Gervase Elwes, of Woodford, Essex; and his son, Sir Gervase Elwes, 1st Baronet (1628-1706) was an English politician, Member of Parliament for Sudbury (1677-1679) and (1679-1684) and Suffolk 1679 and (1690-1698); Gervase Elwes (ca.1657-1687), an English politician, Member of Parliament for Sudbury (1679-1685); and Sir John Elwill, 1st Baronet (c. 1640-1717), an English aristocrat and politician.John Elwes of Meggott (1714–1789), miser, was born on 7 April 1714 in the parish of St. James, Westminster. His father, Robert Meggott (or Meggot), was a brewer in Southwark, son of George Meggott, M.P. for Southwark (1722–3), grandson...
Another 238 words (17 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Ellway Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Ellway family

For many English families, the political and religious disarray that shrouded England made the far away New World an attractive prospect. On cramped disease-ridden ships, thousands migrated to those British colonies that would eventually become Canada and the United States. Those hardy settlers that survived the journey often went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Ellway or a variant listed above: the name represented in many forms and recorded from the mid 17th century in the great migration from Europe. Migrants settled in the eastern seaboard from Newfoundland, to Maine, to Virginia, the Carolinas, and to the islands..



The Ellway 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: Deo non fortuna
Motto Translation: Through God not by chance.


  1. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.


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