Show ContentsPellow History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Pellow reached England in the great wave of migration following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Pellow family lived in Yorkshire. The name, however, refers to the region of Belleau or Bella Aqua in France, both of which translate as good water or clear water. [1]

The name also stretched north into Scotland where "Gilbert de Beleawe witnessed gift of the 'eschalingas i Lambremore' to the church of Kelso by William de Vyerpunt c. 1160. [2]

Early Origins of the Pellow family

The surname Pellow was first found in Yorkshire, where the name is "probably of Norman origin, meaning bel-eau, in Latin, Bella-aqua, the fair water; the designation of some locality. John be Bellew was a Baron of Parliament temp. Edward I." [3]

The family claim that the founder of the Bellews was a marshal in the army of the Conqueror. Some of the eighteen knights who were in direct succession settled in Ireland at Bellewstown, in the county of Meath and in Louth in the 13th century. [4]

Another source claims the name "is an old, though now a rare, Devonshire name." [5] This source also notes that the family had been lords of the manor of Stockleigh-English for more than 150 years.

Early History of the Pellow family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Pellow research. Another 77 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1575, 1585, 1720, 1798, 1805, 1848 and 1866 are included under the topic Early Pellow History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Pellow Spelling Variations

Before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Sound was what guided spelling in the Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Pellow family name include Bellew, Belew, Below, Bella and others.

Early Notables of the Pellow family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Richard Bellew (fl. 1585), English legal reporter, "published in 1585 an abridgment of the reports of Statham Fitzherbert and Brooke, described by...
Another 30 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Pellow Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Pellow family to Ireland

Some of the Pellow family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 87 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Pellow migration to the United States +

To escape the political and religious chaos of this era, thousands of English families began to migrate to the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. The passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe; however, those who made the voyage safely were encountered opportunities that were not available to them in their homeland. Many of the families that reached the New World at this time went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations of the United States and Canada. Research into various historical records has revealed some of first members of the Pellow family to immigrate North America:

Pellow Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Mr. William Pellow, (b. 1876), aged 23, Cornish labourer, from St Ives, Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship "New York" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 8th July 1899 en route to Calumet, Michigan, USA [6]
Pellow Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Mr. William Pellow, (b. 1879), aged 21, Cornish miner travelling aboard the ship "New York" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 11th February 1900 en route to Calumet, Michigan, USA [6]
  • Mr. William Pellow, (b. 1874), aged 30, Cornish miner travelling aboard the ship "St Louis" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 24th April 1904 en route to Hancock, Michigan, USA [6]
  • Mr. Simon V. Pellow, (b. 1883), aged 22, Cornish stonemason, from St Austell, Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship "Caronia" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 11th May 1905 en route to Michigan City, Indiana, USA [6]
  • Mr. Vivian Pellow, (b. 1878), aged 27, Cornish miner travelling aboard the ship "St Louis" arriving at Ellis Island, New York in 1905 en route to Red Jacket, Michigan, USA [6]

Australia Pellow migration to Australia +

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

Pellow Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Thomas Pellow, aged 24, a miner, who arrived in South Australia in 1857 aboard the ship "Sumner"
  • Mr. John Pellow, (b. 1839), aged 18, Cornish farm labourer departing from Plymouth aboard the ship "Fitzjames" arriving in Port Jackson, New South Wales, Australia on 1st April 1857 [7]
  • Edwin Pellow, aged 6, who arrived in South Australia in 1860 aboard the ship "Ramillies" [8]
  • Emily Pellow, aged 20, a domestic servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1860 aboard the ship "Ramillies" [8]
  • Louisa Pellow, aged 17, a domestic, who arrived in South Australia in 1860 aboard the ship "Ramillies" [8]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Pellow migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Pellow Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mr. W. T. Pellow, British settler travelling from Plymouth aboard the ship "Joseph Fletcher" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 19th March 1858 [9]
  • W. Pellow, British settler travelling from Plymouth with family aboard the ship "Joseph Fletcher" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 19th March 1858 [9]
  • Miss Maria Pellow, (b. 1854), aged 19, Cornish servant departing on 16th July 1873 aboard the ship "Adamant" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 17th October 1873 [10]
  • Mr. James Pellow, (b. 1844), aged 30, Cornish stonemason departing on 20th March 1874 aboard the ship "Northampton" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 6th June 1874 [10]
  • Mr. John S. Pellow, (b. 1860), aged 19, Cornish farm labourer departing on 29th May 1879 aboard the ship "Famenoth" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 8th September 1879 [11]

Contemporary Notables of the name Pellow (post 1700) +

  • David Naguib Pellow (b. 1969), American author who has written widely on themes, and edited books, related to the environment
  • Kit Donovan Pellow (b. 1973), former American Major League Baseball utility player
  • Thomas Pellow (b. 1704), Cornish author, best known for his slave story "The History of the Long Captivity and Adventures of Thomas Pellow in South-Barbary…"
  • Marti Pellow (b. 1965), born Mark McLachlan, Scottish pop star and lead singer of the Scottish pop group Wet Wet Wet


The Pellow 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: Tout d'en haut
Motto Translation: All from above.


  1. Arthur, William , An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. London: 1857. Print
  2. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
  3. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  4. Burke, John Bernard, The Roll of Battle Abbey. London: Edward Churton, 26, Holles Street, 1848, Print.
  5. Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
  6. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_ellis_island_1892_on.pdf
  7. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_nsw_1850_59.pdf
  8. South Australian Register Tuesday 11 January 1853. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) RAMILLIES 1860. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/ramillies1860.shtml
  9. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  10. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, April 30). Emigrants to Lyttelton 1858-84 [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/new_zealand_assisted.pdf
  11. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, April 30). Emigrants to Auckland 1872-80 [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/new_zealand_assisted.pdf


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