Fanshaw History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The ancient roots of the Fanshaw family name are in the Anglo-Saxon culture. The name Fanshaw comes from when the family lived at Fanshawe Gate Hall in the county of Derbyshire. 1

Another source notes that name was derived from "fane, a temple or church, and shaw, a small wood or grove, a thicket—the church in the grove." 2

Early Origins of the Fanshaw family

The surname Fanshaw was first found in Derbyshire. The family held high distinction at Fanshawe Gate from early times. This was the site where Thomas Fanshawe (1533-1601), the Queen's Remembrancer and his descendants hailed.

Earlier John ffawnchall, Fanshawe was listed here in 1490. 1

Very little is known of the earlier lineage apart from the fact that he was the eldest son of John Fanshawe of Fanshawe Gate and had an uncle name Henry Fanshawe. In addition to Fanshawe Gate, he held estates in Ware Park, Hertfordshire and Jenkins, in Barking, Essex; presumably some were inherited through the family.

Early History of the Fanshaw family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Fanshaw research. Another 69 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1533, 1569, 1596, 1601, 1608, 1616, 1621, 1625, 1661, 1665, 1666 and 1680 are included under the topic Early Fanshaw History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Fanshaw Spelling Variations

One relatively recent invention that did much to standardize English spelling was the printing press. However, before its invention even the most literate people recorded their names according to sound rather than spelling. The spelling variations under which the name Fanshaw has appeared include Fanshaw, Fanshawe and others.

Early Notables of the Fanshaw family

Distinguished members of the family include

Thomas Fanshawe (1533-1601), English Remembrancer of the Exchequer
Sir Henry Fanshawe (1569-1616), an English Remembrancer of the Exchequer
Thomas Fanshawe, 1st Viscount Fanshawe KB (1596-1665), an English politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1621 and 1661, supporter of the Royalist cause in the English Civil War
Sir Richard Fanshawe, 1st Baronet (1608-1666), an English poet and translator

Fanshaw migration to the United States +

At this time, the shores of the New World beckoned many English families that felt that the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. Thousands left England at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. A great portion of these settlers never survived the journey and even a greater number arrived sick, starving, and without a penny. The survivors, however, were often greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. These English settlers made significant contributions to those colonies that would eventually become the United States and Canada. An examination of early immigration records and passenger ship lists revealed that people bearing the name Fanshaw arrived in North America very early:

Fanshaw Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Richard Fanshaw, aged 22, who landed in Virginia in 1635 3

Fanshaw Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Sibilla Fanshaw, who settled in Virginia in 1726

Fanshaw migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Fanshaw Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Catherine Fanshaw, aged 16, who arrived in South Australia in 1849 aboard the ship "Elgin" 4
Julia Fanshaw, aged 14, who arrived in South Australia in 1849 aboard the ship "Elgin" 4
Margaret Fanshaw, aged 15, who arrived in South Australia in 1849 aboard the ship "Elgin" 4
Catherine Fanshaw, aged 16, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Elgin" in 1849 4
Julia Fanshaw, aged 14, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Elgin" in 1849 4
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Citations +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Arthur, William , An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. London: 1857. Print
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) ELGIN 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849Elgin.htm