Sheldrick History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The Sheldrick surname derives from the Middle English word "scheldrake," a type of brightly colored duck, from the East Anglian dialect term "scheld," meaning "variegated," and "drake," a "male duck." It has been suggested that the surname evolved from a nickname for a vain or showy person. 1
Early Origins of the Sheldrick family
The surname Sheldrick was first found in Essex where Roger Scheldrac was the first listing of the family who appeared in the Pipe Rolls of 1195. 2 Later, the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 listed Adam Sceyldrake in Suffolk. 3
Early History of the Sheldrick family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Sheldrick research. Another 78 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1195, 1275, 1632, 1662, 1756 and 1802 are included under the topic Early Sheldrick History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Sheldrick 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 Sheldrick have been found, including Shelldrake, Sheldrake, Shelldrick, Shelldrick, Sheldrick, Shelldrack, Sheldrack, Shelldreck and many more.
Early Notables of the Sheldrick family
Another 46 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Sheldrick Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Sheldrick 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 Sheldrick, or a variant listed above:
Sheldrick Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
- Elizabeth Sheldrick, who settled in Virginia in 1732
- Elizabeth Sheldrick, a bonded passenger, who settled in America in 1732
Sheldrick migration to Australia +
Emigration to
Australia followed the
First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:
Sheldrick Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
- Mr. Richard Sheldrick, (b. 1789), aged 44, English labourer who was convicted in London, England for 7 years for larceny, transported aboard the "Enchantress"on 6th April 1833, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 4
- James Sheldrick, aged 34, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1858 aboard the ship "Bee"
Contemporary Notables of the name Sheldrick (post 1700) +
- William J. Sheldrick, American Democratic Party politician, Member of New York State Assembly from New York County 13th District, 1931-40; Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from New York, 1940 5
- Susanna Sheldrick, American politician, Candidate for Presidential Elector for California, 1972 5
- Dennis A. Sheldrick, American politician, Candidate for Presidential Elector for California, 1972 5
- Dame Daphne Sheldrick DBE (b. 1934), Kenyan author and conservationist
- Major David Leslie William Sheldrick MBE (1919-1977), Kenyan farmer and park warden
- Catherine Sheldrick Ross (1945-2021), Canadian professor and later dean of the Faculty of Information and Media Studies at University of Western Ontario, Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada
Historic Events for the Sheldrick family +
HMS Royal Oak
- Douglas W.V. Sheldrick, British Stoker 2nd Class with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he survived the sinking 6
Citations +
- Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
- Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
- Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
- Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 20th April 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/enchantress
- The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 2) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
- Ships hit by U-boats crew list HMS Royal Oak (08) - (Retrieved 2018 February, 9th) - retrieved from https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship68.html