Shoultz History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland
Scotland

Shoultz is an ancient Norman name that arrived in England after the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Shoultz family lived in Norfolk, at Shouldham. The first record of the family was Simon de Shuldham who was found here in the Pipe Rolls of 1177. John of Shouldham was listed in the Assize Rolls for Norfolk in 1312. 1

The source History of Norfolk notes Thomas Shouldham, Norfolk, 1467; Thomas Shuldham, Norfolk, temp. 1580; and John Shouldnam, Lord of Marham and Shouldham. 2

Early Origins of the Shoultz family

The surname Shoultz was first found in Norfolk where they held a family seat from the 12th century. Conjecturally they were descended from Ranulf, the Norman noble who held the lands of Shouldham from Reynald FitzIvo at the taking of the Domesday Book in the year 1086. At this time the lands held 1 Mill, 1.5 fisheries and a salt house. Recent excavations in the village suggest that it has been inhabited for 2000 years. 3

"Shouldham Hall, co. Suffolk, was the seat of this family so early as 34 Henry III., when Sir William de Shuldham was resident there. The Shuldhams of Ireland settled in that country, in co. Cork, early in the XVIII. century." 4 The Sholar variant probably originated in Lancashire where Adam del Scoler was listed in the Subsidy Rolls for 1332. 1 Later up in Scotland, Henry Scoular witnessed a sasine in 1525. George and Ralph Scouller in Huittoun, 1665. 5

Early History of the Shoultz family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Shoultz research. Another 101 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1250, 1556, 1616, 1651, 1679, 1681 and 1750 are included under the topic Early Shoultz History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Shoultz Spelling Variations

Norman surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. The frequent changes in surnames are largely due to the fact that the Old and Middle English languages lacked definite spelling rules. The introduction of Norman French to England, as well as the official court languages of Latin and French, also had pronounced influences on the spelling of surnames. Since medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, rather than adhering to any specific spelling rules, it was common to find the same individual referred to with different spellings. The name has been spelled Shuldham, Shouldham, Shuldam, Shouldam, Sholtham and many more.

Early Notables of the Shoultz family

More information is included under the topic Early Shoultz Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Shoultz family to Ireland

Some of the Shoultz family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 63 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Shoultz migration to the United States +

Many English families emigrated to North American colonies in order to escape the political chaos in Britain at this time. Unfortunately, many English families made the trip to the New World 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 stormy Atlantic. Despite these hardships, many of the families prospered and went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the United States and Canada. Early North American immigration records have revealed a number of people bearing the name Shoultz or a variant listed above:

Shoultz Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Herman Shoultz, aged 23, who arrived in Missouri in 1839 6

The Shoultz 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: Vigilate et orate
Motto Translation: Watch and pray.

Citations +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Rye, Walter, A History of Norfolk. London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, 1885. Print
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
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)
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)