Shirwood History, Family Crest & Coats of ArmsIn ancient Anglo-Saxon England, the ancestors of the Shirwood surname lived in Sherwood found in various locations in Nottingham and Derbyshire. The surname is probably best known in reference to the fabled Sherwood Forest which has been immortalized by the legendary Robin Hood, who according to legend was the Earl of Huntingdon, Robert Fitzooth. William of Sherwood (1190-1249) was a medieval English logician and teacher. Early Origins of the Shirwood familyThe surname Shirwood was first found in Durham, but one of the earliest records of the name was found in the Assize Rolls of Yorkshire of 1219 where Williame de Shirewude was listed. 1 William Shirwood (fl. 1260), was an English schoolman who held the prebend of Ailesbury, Lincoln, in 1245, and was later Treasurer of that church in 1258 and 1267. 2 A few years later, Ralph de Scirewode was listed in Lincolnshire in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273. Alan de Shirewod was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1327. The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 list the following: Margareta de Shyrwode; Alexander de Shyrwode; and Willelmus de Schiwode. 3 Early History of the Shirwood familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Shirwood research. Another 104 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1460, 1464, 1468, 1482, 1494, 1520, 1552, 1579, 1622, 1626, 1632, 1660, 1706, 1740 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Shirwood History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Shirwood Spelling VariationsIt is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Shirwood 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. The variations of the name Shirwood include: Sherwood, Sherward and others. Early Notables of the Shirwood familyDistinguished members of the family include
Migration of the Shirwood family to IrelandSome of the Shirwood family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. Migration of the Shirwood familyMany 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 Shirwood or a variant listed above: Peter Sherwood settled in Virginia in 1621; followed by Susan in 1635; John in 1639; Humphrey in 1648; Jane in 1653; Mary in 1656; Thomas, Alice, Rebecca, John, Anna and Rose Sherwood, all settled in Boston in 1634..
|