Show ContentsElwes History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Elwes family

The surname Elwes was first found in Nottinghamshire where the family name was first referenced in the 13th century when they held estates in that shire and held a family seat at Habelsthorp.

Later, evidence was found that some of the family moved to Throcking in Hertfordshire. "The church contains several monuments to the Elwes family, who formerly had a mansion here; one of the memorials, executed by Nollekens, is of very superior design." 1

Early History of the Elwes family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Elwes research. Another 175 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1096, 1234, 1455, 1476, 1487, 1504, 1510, 1547, 1600, 1615, 1628, 1629, 1640, 1657, 1677, 1679, 1684, 1685, 1687, 1690, 1698, 1706, 1713, 1714, 1717, 1722, 1750 and 1789 are included under the topic Early Elwes History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Elwes Spelling Variations

The first dictionaries that appeared in the last few hundred years did much to standardize the English language. Before that time, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. The language was changing, incorporating pieces of other languages, and the spelling of names changed with it. Elwes has been spelled many different ways, including Elwes, Elwas, Elwish, Elwash, Elweys, Elway, Ellway, Elways, Ellway, Elwesh, Elway, Elwill, Elwiss and many more.

Early Notables of the Elwes family

Distinguished members of the family include

  • Sir Gervase Elwes, of Woodford, Essex; and his son, Sir Gervase Elwes, 1st Baronet (1628-1706) was an English politician, Member of Parliament for Sudbury (1677-1679) and (1679-1684) and Suffolk 1679...
  • John Elwes of Meggott (1714–1789), miser, was born on 7 April 1714 in the parish of St. James, Westminster. His father, Robert Meggott (or Meggot), was a brewer in Southwark, son of George Meggott...
  • On his return he was introduced to his uncle, Sir Hervey Elwes of Stoke College, near Clare, Suffolk, a greater miser than himself. His one amusement was partridge-setting, and he lived on partridges...


United States Elwes migration to the United States +

Thousands of English families in this era began to emigrate the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. Although the passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe, those who made the voyage safely were rewarded with opportunities unavailable to them in their homeland. Research into passenger and immigration lists has revealed some of the very first Elwess to arrive in North America:

Elwes Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Thomas Elwes, who arrived in Maryland in 1668 2

Contemporary Notables of the name Elwes (post 1700) +

  • Simon Edmund Vincent Paul Elwes (1902-1975), British painter
  • John Elwes, British classical singer
  • Cary Elwes (b. 1962), British actor fromin London, England, UK
  • George Elwes Corrie (1793-1885), English Master of Jesus College, Cambridge, born at Colsterworth, Lincolnshire, 28 April 1793 3


The Elwes 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: Deo non fortuna
Motto Translation: Through God not by chance.


  1. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  2. 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)
  3. Wikisource contributors. "Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900." Wikisource . Wikisource , 4 Jun. 2018. Web. 30 June 2020


Houseofnames.com on Facebook