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![Show Contents]() Stringfelow History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 England
The ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of England produced the name of Stringfelow. It was given to a strong person. Stringfelow is a nickname surname, which belongs to the category of hereditary surnames. Nicknames form a broad and miscellaneous class of surnames, and can refer directly or indirectly to one's personality, physical attributes, mannerisms, or even their habits of dress. This surname derives from the Old English words streng and felaw, which mean strong and fellow. However, some believe that the name was an occupational name for "the stringer, a marker of bow-strings." 1 As far as the origin of the name, this source continues "All surnames with the suffix '-fellow' seem to have sprung from the North of England, especially from co. York." Early Origins of the Stringfelow familyThe surname Stringfelow was first found in Yorkshire where they held a family seat. This curious name emerged during the 12th century when it was the custom to adopt a nickname to assert one's prowess and stature in battle. Notable amongst this type of name was Strongbow, sobriquet of the Earl of Pembroke in his invasion of Ireland in 1172. Strongitharm may be a corruption of one English branch of the Scottish Clan Armstrong. Strongfellow, the first version of Stringfellow, and conjecturally all three names are of the Yorkshire branch of Armstrong. Both Strongfellow and Stringfellow have registered the same Coat of Arms and thus seals the obvious connection between these two names. The Yorkshire reference is of no doubt as early rolls revealed: John le Strengfelagh was listed in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield; 2 Laurencius Stryngefelagh was listed in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls in 1379 1; and finally John Strynefelowe was listed in Yorkshire in 1489. Some of the family appeared in Cheshire in early times too, as seen by John le Stengfelagh in 1308; and John Strengfellow, of Openshaw, who was listed in the Wills of Chester in 1616. The same the same source listed Richard Strengfellow, of Rochdale in 1617. Early History of the Stringfelow familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Stringfelow research. Another 34 words (2 lines of text) covering the years 1530, 1799 and 1883 are included under the topic Early Stringfelow History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Stringfelow Spelling VariationsOne relatively recent invention that did much to standardize English spelling was the printing press. However, before its invention even the most literate people recorded their names according to sound rather than spelling. The spelling variations under which the name Stringfelow has appeared include Strongfellow, Stringfellow and others. Early Notables of the Stringfelow familyMore information is included under the topic Early Stringfelow Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Stringfelow familyAt this time, the shores of the New World beckoned many English families that felt that the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. Thousands left England at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. A great portion of these settlers never survived the journey and even a greater number arrived sick, starving, and without a penny. The survivors, however, were often greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. These English settlers made significant contributions to those colonies that would eventually become the United States and Canada. An examination of early immigration records and passenger ship lists revealed that people bearing the name Stringfelow arrived in North America very early: John Stringfellow who landed in Pennsylvania in 1682; another John Stringfellow, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1858; Joseph Stringfellow, who came to Philadelphia in 1866.
- Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
- Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
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