Robertshaw History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Scotland

Early Origins of the Robertshaw family

The surname Robertshaw was first found in Yorkshire where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor. The Saxon influence of English history diminished after the Battle of Hastings in 1066. The language of the courts was French for the next three centuries and the Norman ambience prevailed. But Saxon surnames survived and the family name was first referenced in the year 1441 when Richard Robertshawe held estates in that shire in the West Riding near Heptonstall. The village records are now lost. Although most historians attribute this name to Roberts (shaw) or Robert's wood, this is highly questionable. It is much more likely that this lineage, pre 1441, derived from Robesart, now extinct in the male line, a very distinguished and influential titled Norman family headed by Lord Robesart or Robsart, (Robisheau,) a Knight of the Garter about 1410 but descending from Sir. Robsert who was knighted in 1347. He held many estates in Warwickshire and Yorkshire.

Early History of the Robertshaw family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Robertshaw research. Another 127 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1455, 1487 and 1938 are included under the topic Early Robertshaw History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Robertshaw Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Robertshaw, Robertschaw, Robertshore, Robertsure, Robertshawe, Robertschawe, Robishaw, Robbishaw, Robishawe, Robertshay, Robbishay, Robishay, Robisheaux, Robishow, Robshaw, Robshawe, Robisheau, Robsart, Robsert, Robesard and many more.

Early Notables of the Robertshaw family

Distinguished members of the family include

the Robertshaw family of Yorkshire

Robertshaw migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Robertshaw Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

James Robertshaw, who landed in Mississippi in 1888 1

Robertshaw 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:

Robertshaw Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

George Robertshaw, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Nimroud" in 1863
Mary Robertshaw, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Nimroud" in 1863
Anne Robertshaw, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Nimroud" in 1863
George M. Robertshaw, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Nimroud" in 1863
Frank E. Robertshaw, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Nimroud" in 1863
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Robertshaw (post 1700) +

Lieutenant General Louis Bentham Robertshaw (1912-2003), American Marine aviator in WW II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War
Andrew Robertshaw, English military historian, curator, author and educator
Jeff Robertshaw (b. 1983), Canadian football defensive end
Rawson Robertshaw (1861-1920), British rugby union footballer
Jerrold Robertshaw (1866-1941), British film actor of the silent era

Citations +

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)