The name Shellcross is of Anglo-Saxon origin and came from when the family lived in the county of Derbyshire. The surname Shellcross is a habitation surname which forms a broad category of surnames that were derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads. In this case the family was named after the ancient stone cross that stood in the High Peak forest in the parish of Shackelcross.
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Early Origins of the Shellcross family
The surname Shellcross was first found in Derbyshire at Shallcross, a small village in northwestern portion of the shire. Some claim the name Shallcross comes from an ancient stone cross, known as the Shall Cross which dated back to 832 when St. Paulinus visited the area.
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Early History of the Shellcross family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Shellcross research. Another 58 words (4 lines of text) covering the year 1686 is included under the topic Early Shellcross History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
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Shellcross 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 Shellcross 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. Scribes and monks in the Middle Ages spelled names they sounded, so it is common to find several variations that refer to a single person. The variations of the name Shellcross include: Shallcross, Shalcross, Shawcross, Shallcrosse and others.
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Early Notables of the Shellcross family
More information is included under the topic Early Shellcross Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
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Migration of the Shellcross 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 Shellcross or a variant listed above: Bradford, James and Samuel Shawcross arrived in Philadelphia between 1852 and 1871.
England
