Shearwood History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The ancestors of the bearers of the Shearwood family name are thought have lived in ancient Anglo-Saxon England. They were first found in Sherwood found in various locations in Nottingham and Derbyshire. The surname is probably best known in reference to the fabled Sherwood Forest which has been immortalized by the legendary Robin Hood, who according to legend was the Earl of Huntingdon, Robert Fitzooth. William of Sherwood (1190-1249) was a medieval English logician and teacher.

Early Origins of the Shearwood family

The surname Shearwood was first found in Durham, but one of the earliest records of the name was found in the Assize Rolls of Yorkshire of 1219 where Williame de Shirewude was listed. 1

William Shirwood (fl. 1260), was an English schoolman who held the prebend of Ailesbury, Lincoln, in 1245, and was later Treasurer of that church in 1258 and 1267. 2

A few years later, Ralph de Scirewode was listed in Lincolnshire in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273. Alan de Shirewod was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1327. The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 list the following: Margareta de Shyrwode; Alexander de Shyrwode; and Willelmus de Schiwode. 3

Early History of the Shearwood family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Shearwood research. Another 104 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1460, 1464, 1468, 1482, 1494, 1520, 1552, 1579, 1622, 1626, 1632, 1660, 1706, 1740 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Shearwood History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Shearwood Spelling Variations

Until quite recently, the English language has lacked a definite system of spelling rules. Consequently, Anglo-Saxon surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. Changes in Anglo-Saxon names were influenced by the evolution of the English language, as it incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other languages. Although Medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, so it is common to find one person referred to by several different spellings of his surname, even the most literate people varied the spelling of their own names. Variations of the name Shearwood include Sherwood, Sherward and others.

Early Notables of the Shearwood family

Distinguished members of the family include Blessed Thomas Sherwood (c. 1552-1579) an English Catholic layman and martyr. John Shirwood (died 1494), was an English divine, educated at University College, Oxford, Bishop of Durham and Robert Shirwood (fl. 1520), was an English hebraist, was born at Coventry in Warwickshire. Robert Sherwood (fl. 1632), was an English lexicographer, born in Norfolk, entered Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, on 4 July 1622, and graduated B.A. in 1626. Grace Sherwood (1660-1740), called...
Another 73 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Shearwood Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Shearwood family to Ireland

Some of the Shearwood family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 146 words (10 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 Shearwood family

Searching for a better life, many English families migrated to British colonies. Unfortunately, the majority of them traveled under extremely harsh conditions: overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the ocean. For those families that arrived safely, modest prosperity was attainable, and many went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the new colonies. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Shearwood or a variant listed above: Peter Sherwood settled in Virginia in 1621; followed by Susan in 1635; John in 1639; Humphrey in 1648; Jane in 1653; Mary in 1656; Thomas, Alice, Rebecca, John, Anna and Rose Sherwood, all settled in Boston in 1634..

Citations +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)