Bagshore History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The present generation of the Bagshore family is only the most recent to bear a name that dates back to the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. Their name comes from having lived in Derbyshire, where they were found since the early Middle Ages before the Norman Conquest in 1066.

We should take a moment to explore one source's claim that the name came from "Bagshot; a location name in Surrey, Wiltshire. " 1

As far as the chapelry of Bagshot in Surrey is concerned, "this place, [was] formerly called Holy Hall. It was once a residence of the kings of England, who had a mansion here, and a park, which was laid open after the civil war in the reign of Charles I.: the house was occupied by the late Duke of Gloucester. On the borders of Bagshot Heath are some handsome villas. " 2 So one cannot deny that this would an agreeable and noble place to claim descent, the fact that "Holy Hall" was the original name of the chapelry seems to negate the possibility. That leaves the hamlet of Bagshot in Wiltshire as a possibility. We doubt this possibility too, as by the late 1800s, the hamlet's population was only 194. 2 Accordingly, we must defer to the aforementioned Derbyshire as the most likely place of origin.

Early Origins of the Bagshore family

The surname Bagshore was first found in Derbyshire. The first record was of Nicholas Bagshawe who married Alice of the Hall. He was forester to the King. He acquired the lands of Wormhill, and later built Wormhill Hall. "Derbyshire is the great home of the Bagshaws, who have preserved a distinguished name since the 15th century, when they resided at Abney and Wormhill." 3

Kirby's Quest notes some very early spellings in early rolls: Oliver de Bogeschaghe, Somerset and Richard de Boggeschaghe, Somerset 1 Edward III (during the first year of Edward III's reign) 4

Nicholas Bagshawe and Humphry Bagshawe were both listed in the Calendar of Proceedings in Chancery, temp. Elizabeth I. 5 In the 13th century the name of De Baggesoure occurred in Shropshire. 3

Early History of the Bagshore family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bagshore research. Another 154 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1563, 1589, 1593, 1604, 1625, 1628, 1629, 1634, 1640, 1644, 1657, 1662, 1671, 1696, 1702, 1721 and 1886 are included under the topic Early Bagshore History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bagshore 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 Bagshore include Bagshaw, Bagshawe, Bagshott, Bagshot, Bagshote and others.

Early Notables of the Bagshore family

Distinguished members of the family include Sir Richard Bagshaw, Sheriff of Derby and Nottingham; Edward Bagshaw (or Bagshawe) the elder (ca. 1589-1662), an English author and politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1640 to 1644, supporter of the Royalist cause in the English Civil War. Christopher Bagshaw (d. 1625?), was an English priest who came of a Derbyshire family. "Before going to Oxford he appears to have studied for a short time at Cambridge. "In 1593 he was confined with other priests and gentlemen in Wisbeach Castle. His fellow prisoners held him at first in great...
Another 98 words (7 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Bagshore Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Bagshore family to Ireland

Some of the Bagshore family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 53 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 Bagshore family

Thousands of English families boarded ships sailing to the New World in the hope of escaping the unrest found in England at this time. Although the search for opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad took the lives of many because of the cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels, the opportunity perceived in the growing colonies of North America beckoned. Many of the settlers who survived the journey went on to make important contributions to the transplanted cultures of their adopted countries. The Bagshore were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records: Henry Bagshaw who settled in New England in 1751; Ben Bagshaw settled in Maryland in 1699; William Bagshaw who settled in Pennsylvania in 1867.

The Bagshore 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: Forma floss
Motto Translation: Beauty is a flower.

Citations +

Barber, Henry, British Family Names London: Elliot Stock, 62 Paternoster Row, 1894. Print.
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. 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)