Show ContentsScarborowe History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The origins of the Scarborowe name lie with England's ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. It comes from when the family lived in the county of Yorkshire, where they held the manor of Scarborough. This place-name was originally derived from the Old English Skaroisburg, which was brought into England during the Norman Conquest of 1066.

Early Origins of the Scarborowe family

The surname Scarborowe was first found in North Riding of Yorkshire at Scarborough, a borough, markettown, and parish. 1

"The origin of this town has not been satisfactorily ascertained: it is supposed to have derived its name from the Saxon Scear, a rock, and Burgh, a fortified place. The earliest authentic record of it is a charter of Henry II., conferring certain privileges on the inhabitants; and in the reign of Henry III., a charter was granted for making a new pier at Scardeburgh, as the place was then called." 2

Some of the family were found further north in Scotland in early years too. "Nicholas de Scardbrow witnessed charters by Willelmus de Hawoc, burgess of Perth, c. 1245 and Roger de Scardtheburge was clericus domini regis, c. 1272. Robert de Scardeburgh was parson of the church of Conington in 1295. " 3 But this latter source notes that the name was indeed from Yorkshire.

Sir Robert de Scorburgh (d. 1340), was Baron of the Exchequer and "derived his name from Scorborough in the East Riding of Yorkshire. He is no doubt the Robert de Scorburgh of Beverley to whom there are some references in 1320 to 1322. At his death he is described as possessing the manor of Scoreby, together with property in Stamford Bridge and Etton. " 4

Early History of the Scarborowe family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Scarborowe research. Another 90 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1584, 1615, 1616, 1617, 1635, 1642, 1645, 1646, 1671, 1693 and 1694 are included under the topic Early Scarborowe History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Scarborowe Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years, the English language had no fast system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations are commonly found in early Anglo-Saxon surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Scarborowe were recorded, including Scarbrough, Scarboro, Scarborough, Scasbridge, Scarbrow, Scarburg, Scarburgh, Scarsbridge and many more.

Early Notables of the Scarborowe family

Notables of the family at this time include Sir Charles Scarborough MP FRS FRCP (1615-1693), an English physician and mathematician; Captain Edmund Scarborough (1584-1635), English barrister and graduate of Caius College; and his son, Colonel Edmund Scarborough (1617-1671) English-born, early American...
Another 40 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Scarborowe Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Scarborowe family

To escape oppression and starvation at that time, many English families left for the "open frontiers" of the New World with all its perceived opportunities. In droves people migrated to the many British colonies, those in North America in particular, paying high rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Although many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, those who did see the shores of North America perceived great opportunities before them. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Research into various historical records revealed some of first members of the Scarborowe family emigrate to North America: Hannah Scarborough who settled in Virginia with her husband Mathew in 1635; Thomas Scarbourgh settled in Virginia in 1639; Richard Scarbrow settled in Virginia in 1656.



  1. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  2. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  3. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
  4. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print


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