Strangway History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The name Strangway has a long Anglo-Saxon heritage. The name comes from when a family lived in the settlement of Strangeways in the county of Lancashire. The surname Strangway belongs to the large category of Anglo-Saxon habitation names, which are derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads.

Early Origins of the Strangway family

The surname Strangway was first found in Lancashire where it is generally thought that the name was derived from Strangwish, near Manchester which was held by the family in the 14th century. 1 In fact, the English "Gentleman Pirate" Henry Strangways (died 1562) often spelt his name "Strangwish."

Of note in early times was Thomas Strangeways (c. 1395-before 1442), husband of Katherine Strangeways who together had two daughters: Joan Strangeways, who first married Sir William Willoughby, before 20 July 1461; and Katherine Strangeways, who married Henry Grey, 4th (7th) Baron Grey of Codnor, 29 August 1454.

James Strangeways of Fyfield, a gentleman usher of the King's Chamber in London was the second husband of Lady Catherine Gordon (c. 1474-1537) and was married before 13 February 1512.

Early History of the Strangway family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Strangway research. Another 154 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1516, 1562, 1585, 1614, 1615, 1636, 1640, 1661, 1666, 1675 and 1676 are included under the topic Early Strangway History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Strangway Spelling Variations

Spelling variations in names were a common occurrence before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate spelled their names differently as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Strangway have been found, including Strangways, Strangeways, Strangwich, Strangwish, Strangeway and many more.

Early Notables of the Strangway family

Distinguished members of the family include

Sir John Strangways (1585-1666), an English politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1614 and 1666, he supported the Royalist side in the English Civil War
John Strangways (1636-1676), an English politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1661 to 1676

Strangway migration to the United States +

Families began migrating abroad in enormous numbers because of the political and religious discontent in England. Often faced with persecution and starvation in England, the possibilities of the New World attracted many English people. Although the ocean trips took many lives, those who did get to North America were instrumental in building the necessary groundwork for what would become for new powerful nations. Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America bore the name Strangway, or a variant listed above:

Strangway Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

William and Robert Strangway, who settled in Maryland in 1750

Strangway migration to New Zealand +

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:

Strangway Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. Edward Strangway, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Kenilworth" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 2nd May 1857 2

Citations +

Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html