Grenough History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The ancestors of the bearers of the Grenough family name are thought have lived in ancient Anglo-Saxon England. They were first found at the green way or road. The surname Grenough is derived from the Old English words grene, which means green and weg, which means road. Therefore the original bearers of the Grenough name lived by the grassy path or road. 1

Early Origins of the Grenough family

The surname Grenough was first found in Devon but we must look to Oxfordshire where to find the first recorded reference of the name as Robert Greneway who was listed in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273. 2

In Kent, William de Greneweie was found in the Curia Regis Rolls of 1214 and later, John atte Grenewey was listed in the Subsidy Rolls for Somerset in 1327. 1

Again in Somerset, John Grenewey, and John atte Grenewey were both listed there 1 Edward III (during the first year of the reign of King Edward III.) 3

"Several of the old clothiers of Tiverton [Devon] made good use of their wealth. Among earlier benefactors to the town, connected with the same industry, was John Greenwaye, who erected the Greenwaye chapel and a set of almshouses, about the year 1517, the chapel being the most elaborate and notable portion of the Church of St. Peter. With John Greenwaye was associated his wife Joan. And so another set of almshouses were built by ' John Waldron and Richoard his wyfe,' in 1579. " 4

Early History of the Grenough family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Grenough research. Another 52 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1491, 1563, 1580, 1584, 1597, 1598, 1603, 1635 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Grenough History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Grenough Spelling Variations

Until quite recently, the English language has lacked a definite system of spelling rules. Consequently, Anglo-Saxon surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. Changes in Anglo-Saxon names were influenced by the evolution of the English language, as it incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other languages. Although Medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, so it is common to find one person referred to by several different spellings of his surname, even the most literate people varied the spelling of their own names. Variations of the name Grenough include Greenway, Greenaway, Greenhay, Greenwaye and others.

Early Notables of the Grenough family

Distinguished members of the family include Richard Greenway, High Sheriff of Herefordshire in 1491. Oswald Tesimond, alias Greenway, (1563-1635), "the English Jesuit, also known as Philip Beaumont, born in Northumberland in 1563, entered the English College at Rome for his higher studies on 9 Sept. 1580, and joined the Society of Jesus on 13 April 1584 by leave of the cardinal protector...
Another 61 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Grenough Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Grenough family to Ireland

Some of the Grenough family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 81 words (6 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 Grenough family

Searching for a better life, many English families migrated to British colonies. Unfortunately, the majority of them traveled under extremely harsh conditions: overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the ocean. For those families that arrived safely, modest prosperity was attainable, and many went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the new colonies. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Grenough or a variant listed above: John, Mary, Catherine, Susannah Greenway, all settled at Nantasket in 1630; Ursula Greenway settled in Boston in 1635; William Greenway settled in Barbados in 1685.

Citations +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
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.
Worth, R.N., A History of Devonshire London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, E.G., 1895. Digital