Shortey Surname History

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The Anglo-Saxon name Shortey comes from its first bearer, who was a person who because of their physical characteristics was named short. In this case the surname Shortey can be traced back to the Old English word sceort which means short. The original bearer would have been known as the short one, because of his low stature. As height is one of the most easily distinguished features of a person, names derived from this aspect of a person's physique are by no means rare.

Early Origins of the Shortey family

The surname Shortey was first found in Dorset where one of the first records of the name was Ordic Scort who was listed there in the Pipe Rolls of 1176. Other early records include Richard le Sorte who was listed in the Assize Rolls of 1269 in Somerset and William Short who was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex of 1327. 1 The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 list William Short in Suffolk. 2

Early History of the Shortey family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Shortey research. Another 89 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1600, 1603, 1635, 1668, 1675, 1685, 1690, 1772 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Shortey History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Shortey Spelling Variations

The first dictionaries that appeared in the last few hundred years did much to standardize the English language. Before that time, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. The language was changing, incorporating pieces of other languages, and the spelling of names changed with it. Shortey has been spelled many different ways, including Short, Shorte, Shortt, Schorte and others.

Early Notables of the Shortey family

Distinguished members of the family include Peter Short (died 1603), a London printer who printed several first editions and early texts of Shakespeare's works. Thomas Short (1635-1685), was an English physician, son of the Rev. William Short, born at Easton, Suffolk. He settled in London and was...
Another 45 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Shortey Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Shortey family to Ireland

Some of the Shortey family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 50 words (4 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 Shortey family

Thousands of English families in this era began to emigrate the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. Although the passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe, those who made the voyage safely were rewarded with opportunities unavailable to them in their homeland. Research into passenger and immigration lists has revealed some of the very first Shorteys to arrive in North America: John Short, who came to the Jamestown settlement in Virginia in 1606; Henry Short who settled in Massachusetts in 1634; Marmaduke Short, who arrived in Virginia in 1668.

Citations +

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