Show ContentsEnshaw History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Enshaw family

The surname Enshaw was first found in Staffordshire where the Edensors were originally found. Many of the family moved to Norfolk where the name was more commonly spelt Ensor and held Rolesby Hall from early times. 1 Two references claims that Edensor, a village in Derbyshire is also a likely an ancient homestead of the family. 1 2 One of the first records of the name was Adam de Ednesovere who was listed in the Assize Rolls in 1247. 2 The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 list Richard de Edensore in Cambridgeshire. 3

Early History of the Enshaw family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Enshaw research. Another 144 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1077, 1173, 1415, 1455, 1487, 1510, 1570 and 1600 are included under the topic Early Enshaw History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Enshaw Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Enshaw are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Enshaw include: Endesore, Endasour, Endsour, Endasore, Endsaw, Endesaw, Endasaw, Endshaw, Endshore, Enshore, Enshaw, Ensor, Enser and many more.

Early Notables of the Enshaw family

More information is included under the topic Early Enshaw Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Enshaw family

Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Enshaw or a variant listed above: the name represented in many forms and recorded from the mid 17th century in the great migration from Europe. Migrants settled in the eastern seaboard from Newfoundland, to Maine, to Virginia, the Carolinas, and to the islands..



  1. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  2. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  3. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)


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