| ![Show Contents]() Bellshaw History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
Bellshaw is an ancient name whose history on English soil dates back to the wave of emigration that followed the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. The name comes from the Old Norse word which means good friends. The name appears in the oldest of all English plays The Mystery Plays. "Lo, here is the Belshere broght ye had bring". 1 A parochial name from Bellecourt, near Perrone in Normandy, it is believed to have arrived in England with the Norman Conquest and the name appears on the Roll of the Battel Abbey as Bellesur. 2 Early Origins of the Bellshaw familyThe surname Bellshaw was first found in Yorkshire, where the Assize Rolls of 1219 list Thomas Belcher as holding lands at that time. 3 A few years later, Richard Belcchere was listed in Gloucestershire in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273. The same rolls listed John Belsire in Kent. 1 "Belcher has long been an Oxfordshire name. It was established in Enstone in the 16th and 17th centuries. William Belcher, yeoman, of Steeple Aston, presented his son, Thomas Belcher, to the incumbency of Westcot Barton in 1640. Samuel Belcher, apothecary, died at Deddington in 1668. " 4 Early History of the Bellshaw familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bellshaw research. Another 158 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1453, 1530, 1539, 1553, 1563, 1580, 1621, 1673, 1681, 1730, 1741, 1747, 1757 and 1783 are included under the topic Early Bellshaw History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Bellshaw Spelling VariationsEndless spelling variations are a prevailing characteristic of Norman surnames. Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules, and the introduction of Norman French added an unfamiliar ingredient to the English linguistic stew. French and Latin, the languages of the court, also influenced spellings. Finally, Medieval scribes generally spelled words according to how they sounded, so one person was often referred to by different spellings in different documents. The name has been spelled Belcher, Belsher, Belleser, Bellcher, Bellsher, Beleser, Bellesur, Bellecourt, Belcourt and many more. Early Notables of the Bellshaw familyOutstanding amongst the family at this time was Jonathan Belcher (1681-1757), an American merchant, businessman, and politician, Governor of the Province of Massachusetts Bay (1730-1741), Governor of the Province of...
Another 29 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Bellshaw Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.  Migration of the Bellshaw family to Ireland
Some of the Bellshaw family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 30 words (2 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
| Bellshaw migration to New Zealand | + |
Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include: Bellshaw Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century- Charles William Bellshaw, aged 30, a railway labourer, who arrived in Hawkes Bay aboard the ship "Countess of Kintore" in 1875
- Mary Bellshaw, aged 33, who arrived in Hawkes Bay aboard the ship "Countess of Kintore" in 1875
- Lucy Bellshaw, aged 8, who arrived in Hawkes Bay aboard the ship "Countess of Kintore" in 1875
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: Loyal au mort
Motto Translation: Faithful unto death.
- Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
- Barber, Henry, British Family Names London: Elliot Stock, 62 Paternoster Row, 1894. Print.
- Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
- Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
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Bellshaw migration to New Zealand 
England
Ireland
