Kershaw History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms 

Origins Available: 
  England 


The ancestors of the name Kershaw date back to the days of the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. The name is derived from their residence in the area of Kirkshaw at Rochdale in the county of Lancashire. Kershaw is a topographic surname, which was given to a person who resided near a physical feature such as a hill, stream, church, or type of tree. Habitation names form the other broad category of surnames that were derived from place-names. They were derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads. Other local names are derived from the names of houses, manors, estates, regions, and entire counties.

Early Origins of the Kershaw family

The surname Kershaw was first found in Lancashire where it is a local name 'of Kirkshaw,' in the parish of Rochdale. Literally the place name means "church-wood." Some of the earliest records of the name include: Matthew de Kyrkshagh, Lancashire in 1281; Geoffrey del Kyrkeshagh, of Rochdale parish in 1390; and John de Kyrkshagh, or Kershaw, of Townhouses, in Rochdale, 1424. 1

Early History of the Kershaw family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Kershaw research. Another 97 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1379, 1572, 1617 and 1630 are included under the topic Early Kershaw History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Kershaw Spelling Variations

Kershaw has been spelled many different ways. Before English spelling became standardized over the last few hundred years, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. As the English language changed in the Middle Ages, absorbing pieces of Latin and French, as well as other languages, the spelling of people's names also changed considerably, even over a single lifetime. Many variations of the name Kershaw have been found, including Kershaw, Kercher, Kershow, Kirshaw, Kirkshaw and others.

Early Notables of the Kershaw family

Distinguished members of the family include

Kershaw Ranking

In the United States, the name Kershaw is the 7,270th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 2 However, in the United Kingdom, the name Kershaw is ranked the 839th most popular surname with an estimated 8,070 people with that name. 3


Kershaw migration to the United States +

In an attempt to escape the chaos experienced in England, many English families boarded overcrowded and diseased ships sailing for the shores of North America and other British colonies. Those families hardy enough, and lucky enough, to make the passage intact were rewarded with land and a social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families became important contributors to the young colonies in which they settled. Early immigration and passenger lists have documented some of the first Kershaws to arrive on North American shores:

Kershaw Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
Kershaw Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
Kershaw Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
Kershaw Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Kershaw migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Kershaw Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Kershaw 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:

Kershaw Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Contemporary Notables of the name Kershaw (post 1700) +
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