Sandwich History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Early Origins of the Sandwich family

The surname Sandwich was first found in Kent where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor.

One of the first records of the family was Henry de Sandwich (died 1273), bishop of London, was son of Sir Henry de Sandwich, a knight of Kent. "Ralph de Sandwich was probably his brother. He is perhaps the Henry de Sandwich, clerk, who had license to hold an additional benefice, with cure of souls, on 7 June 1238." 1

Later Ralph de Sandwich (d. 1308?), was an English judge, probably brother of Henry de Sandwich, Bishop of London. "He was a knight, lord of lands in Ham and Eynsham, and patron of the church of Waldesham, all in Kent. During the reign of Henry III he was appointed keeper of the wardrobe. In 1264 he withdrew from the king and joined the confederate barons, and on 7 May 1265 Simon de Montfort-Thomas de Cantelupe, the chancellor, being otherwise occupied - committed the great seal to Sandwich." 1

Early History of the Sandwich family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Sandwich research. Another 166 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1286, 1288, 1293, 1306, 1342, 1430, 1455, 1487, 1510 and 1600 are included under the topic Early Sandwich History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Sandwich Spelling Variations

Spelling variations in names were a common occurrence before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate spelled their names differently as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Sandwich have been found, including Sandwich, Sanwick, Sanwich, Sanwiche, Sandwiche, Sandicke and many more.

Early Notables of the Sandwich family

Distinguished members of the family include

the Sandwich family of Kent

Migration of the Sandwich family

Families began migrating abroad in enormous numbers because of the political and religious discontent in England. Often faced with persecution and starvation in England, the possibilities of the New World attracted many English people. Although the ocean trips took many lives, those who did get to North America were instrumental in building the necessary groundwork for what would become for new powerful nations. Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America bore the name Sandwich, 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..

Contemporary Notables of the name Sandwich (post 1700) +

John Montagu Sandwich (1718-1792), English politician

Citations +

Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print