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![Show Contents]() Shirlitch History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 Ireland
When the Strongbownian's arrived in Ireland there was already a system for creating patronymic names in place. Therefore, the native population regarded many of the Anglo-Norman naming practices that these settlers were accustomed to as rather unusual. Despite their differences, the two different systems eventually merged together rather insidiously. The Strongbownians, when they arrived, displayed a preference for used nickname surnames. Two of the most prevalent forms were oath nicknames and imperative names. Oath names often carried blessings or were formed from habitual expressions. Imperative names, formed from a verb added to a noun or an adverb, metaphorically described the bearer's occupations. The nick name surname Shirlitch is derived from a nickname for a short-haired person. However, at least one expert holds the alternative theory that the surname Shirlitch denotes a fair-haired person. According to this theory, the name is derived from the words "scir," which means "bright," and "locc," which means "hair." The Gaelic form of the name Shirlitch is Scurlóg. Early Origins of the Shirlitch familyThe surname Shirlitch was first found in Cheshire, where they held a family seat from early times and their first records appeared on the early census rolls taken by the early Kings of Britain to determine the rate of taxation of their subjects. Early History of the Shirlitch familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Shirlitch research. Another 118 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1595, 1612, 1641, 1646, 1678, 1689, 1691, 1707 and 1761 are included under the topic Early Shirlitch History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Shirlitch Spelling VariationsIt was found during an investigation of the origins of the name Shirlitch that church officials and medieval scribes often spelled the name as it sounded. This practice lead to a single person's being documented under many spelling variations. The name Shirlitch has existed in the various shapes: Sherlock, Scurlock, Scurlog, Shylock, Shyrlock, Sherlocke, Cherlock, Sharlock, Sharloch, Sherloch, Shyrloch, Charlock, Charloch, Sharlocke, Sharloche and many more. Early Notables of the Shirlitch familyNotable amongst the family up to this time was Paul Sherlock (1595-1646), an Irish Jesuit, born at or near Waterford; Richard Sherlock (1612-1689), an English divine, born at Oxton, a township in the Cheshire peninsula of Wirral...
Another 37 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Shirlitch Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Shirlitch familyIreland's Great Potato Famine left the country's inhabitants in extreme poverty and starvation. Many families left their homeland for North America for the promise of work, freedom and land ownership. Although the Irish were not free of economic and racial discrimination in North America, they did contribute greatly to the rapid development of bridges, canals, roads, and railways. Eventually, they would be accepted in other areas such as commerce, education, and the arts. An examination of immigration and passenger lists revealed many bearing the name Shirlitch: John Sherlock settled in St. Christopher in 1635; he and his wife Elizabeth later settled in Virginia in the same year; John Sherlocke settled in Virginia in 1643.
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