Strangeways History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The name Strangeways belongs to the early history of Britain, it's origins lie with the Anglo-Saxons. It is a product of their having lived in the settlement of Strangeways in the county of Lancashire. The surname Strangeways belongs to the large category of Anglo-Saxon habitation names, which are derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads.

Early Origins of the Strangeways family

The surname Strangeways was first found in Lancashire where it is generally thought that the name was derived from Strangwish, near Manchester which was held by the family in the 14th century. 1 In fact, the English "Gentleman Pirate" Henry Strangways (died 1562) often spelt his name "Strangwish."

Of note in early times was Thomas Strangeways (c. 1395-before 1442), husband of Katherine Strangeways who together had two daughters: Joan Strangeways, who first married Sir William Willoughby, before 20 July 1461; and Katherine Strangeways, who married Henry Grey, 4th (7th) Baron Grey of Codnor, 29 August 1454.

James Strangeways of Fyfield, a gentleman usher of the King's Chamber in London was the second husband of Lady Catherine Gordon (c. 1474-1537) and was married before 13 February 1512.

Early History of the Strangeways family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Strangeways research. Another 154 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1516, 1562, 1585, 1614, 1615, 1636, 1640, 1661, 1666, 1675 and 1676 are included under the topic Early Strangeways History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Strangeways Spelling Variations

Until the dictionary, an invention of only the last few hundred years, the English language lacked any comprehensive system of spelling rules. Consequently, spelling variations in names are frequently found in early Anglo-Saxon and later Anglo-Norman documents. One person's name was often spelled several different ways over a lifetime. The recorded variations of Strangeways include Strangways, Strangeways, Strangwich, Strangwish, Strangeway and many more.

Early Notables of the Strangeways family

Distinguished members of the family include

Sir James Strangeways (died 1516), an English politician, Speaker of the House of Commons, the son of Sir James Strangeways of Whorlton, Yorkshire

Strangeways migration to Australia +

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

Strangeways Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Job Strangeways, English convict from York, who was transported aboard the "Arab" on February 22, 1834, settling in Van Diemen's Land, Australia 2

Contemporary Notables of the name Strangeways (post 1700) +

Thomas Strangeways Pigg Strangeways (1866-1926), British pathologist, known for founding the Cambridge Research Hospital, which was renamed the Strangeways Research Laboratory
David Inderwick Strangeways DSO OBE (1912-1998), British Colonel in the British Army who helped organize several military deceptions during World War II

Citations +

Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2015, January 8) Arab voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1834 with 230 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/arab/1834