Shilson History, Family Crest & Coats of ArmsEarly Origins of the Shilson familyThe surname Shilson was first found in Devon where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor. After the Battle of Hastings in 1066, William, Duke of Normandy, having prevailed over King Harold, granted most of Britain to his many victorious Barons. It was not uncommon to find a Baron, or a Bishop, with 60 or more Lordships scattered throughout the country. These he gave to his sons, nephews and other junior lines of his family and they became known as under-tenants. They adopted the Norman system of surnames which identified the under-tenant with his holdings so as to distinguish him from the senior stem of the family. After many rebellious wars between his Barons, Duke William commissioned a census of all England to determine in 1086, settling once and for all, who held which land. He called the census the Domesday Book, 1 indicating that those holders registered would hold the land until the end of time. Hence, conjecturally, the surname is descended from the tenant of the lands of Shilston, held by Richard and Osbern from the Count of Mortain, who was recorded in the Domesday Book census of 1086. Early History of the Shilson familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Shilson research. Another 114 words (8 lines of text) covering the year 1567 is included under the topic Early Shilson History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Shilson Spelling VariationsSpelling variations of this family name include: Shilston, Shilson, Shillingston, Shillson, Sheilson, Shillston, Chilson, Chilston, Chillson and many more. Early Notables of the Shilson familyMore information is included under the topic Early Shilson Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
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: Shilson Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
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