| ![Show Contents]() Shreve History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 England The family name Shreve is one of the oldest Anglo-Saxon names of Britain. It was originally a name for a person who worked as a person who held the office of sheriff. This occupational surname was originally derived from the Old English words scir meaning shire and refa meaning reeve. The surname was originally derived from the "shire-reeve," a Vice Count who was in charge of the law for a shire or county. 1 Before the Norman Conquest the sheriff was the king's representative in a county, responsible for every aspect of local administration in England. Early Origins of the Shreve familyThe surname Shreve was first found in Warwickshire where they held a family seat from early times and their first records appeared on the early census rolls taken by the early Kings of Britain to determine the rate of taxation of their subjects. Early History of the Shreve familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Shreve research. Another 77 words (6 lines of text) covering the year 1567 is included under the topic Early Shreve History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Shreve Spelling VariationsBefore English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, French and other languages became incorporated into English through the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Shreve include Sheriff, Sherrif, Sherriff, Shirreffs, Sheriffs and many more. Early Notables of the Shreve familyMore information is included under the topic Early Shreve Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Shreve RankingIn the United States, the name Shreve is the 6,012nd most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 2
 Shreve migration to the United States | + |
A great wave of immigration to the New World was the result of the enormous political and religious disarray that struck England at that time. Families left for the New World in extremely large numbers. The long journey was the end of many immigrants and many more arrived sick and starving. Still, those who made it were rewarded with an opportunity far greater than they had known at home in England. These emigrant families went on to make significant contributions to these emerging colonies in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers carried this name or one of its variants:
Shreve Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- Marion Shreve, aged 25, who arrived in America, in 1894
- Mary E. Shreve, aged 26, who arrived in America, in 1894
- Miss. M. Shreve, aged 48, who arrived in America, in 1895
- C. N. Shreve, aged 35, who arrived in America, in 1895
- Geo. H. Shreve, aged 53, who arrived in America, in 1895
Shreve Settlers in United States in the 20th Century- J. Nelson Shreve, who arrived in America, in 1904
- Harry Shreve, aged 31, who arrived in America, in 1906
- Dorothy Shreve, aged 11, who arrived in America, in 1909
- Mercer Shreve, aged 6, who arrived in America, in 1909
- Lucy Shreve, aged 34, who arrived in America, in 1909
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
| Shreve migration to Canada | + |
Some of the first settlers of this family name were: Shreve Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century- Rev. Lieut. Thomas Shreve U.E. (b. 1755) who settled in Parrsborough [Parrsboro], Nova Scotia c. 1784 he enlisted in 1776 serving in DeLancey's Brigade 2nd Battalion as well as the Prince of Wales American Volunteers, married twice having 12 children 3
- Thomas Shreve, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1787
| Contemporary Notables of the name Shreve (post 1700) | + |
- Milton William Shreve (1858-1939), American politician, US Congressman from Pennsylvania
- Porter Shreve (b. 1967), American author and professor of English
- Susan Shreve, American novelist, recipient of the Edgar Award for Best Juvenile Mystery
- Henry Miller Shreve (1785-1851), American inventor and steamboat captain, eponym of Shreveport, Louisiana
- Anita Shreve (b. 1946), American author, recipient of the O. Henry Prize in 1976
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: Esse quam videri
Motto Translation: To be, rather than to seem.
- Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
- "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
- Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
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Shreve migration to the United States 
Shreve migration to Canada 
