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The name Shoulders arrived in England after the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Shoulders family lived in Norfolk, at Shouldham. The first record of the family was Simon de Shuldham who was found here in the Pipe Rolls of 1177. John of Shouldham was listed in the Assize Rolls for Norfolk in 1312. 1
The source History of Norfolk notes Thomas Shouldham, Norfolk, 1467; Thomas Shuldham, Norfolk, temp. 1580; and John Shouldnam, Lord of Marham and Shouldham. 2
The surname Shoulders was first found in Norfolk where they held a family seat from the 12th century. Conjecturally they were descended from Ranulf, the Norman noble who held the lands of Shouldham from Reynald FitzIvo at the taking of the Domesday Book in the year 1086. At this time the lands held 1 Mill, 1.5 fisheries and a salt house. Recent excavations in the village suggest that it has been inhabited for 2000 years. 3
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Shoulders research. Another 101 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1250, 1556, 1616, 1651, 1679, 1681 and 1750 are included under the topic Early Shoulders History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
A multitude of spelling variations characterize Norman surnames. Many variations occurred because Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules. The introduction of Norman French to England also had a pronounced effect, as did the court languages of Latin and French. Therefore, one person was often referred to by several different spellings in a single lifetime. The various spellings include Shuldham, Shouldham, Shuldam, Shouldam, Sholtham and many more.
More information is included under the topic Early Shoulders Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
In the United States, the name Shoulders is the 7,644th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 6
Another 63 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Many English families left England, to avoid the chaos of their homeland and migrated to the many British colonies abroad. Although the conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and some travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute, once in the colonies, many of the families prospered and made valuable contributions to the cultures of what would become the United States and Canada. Research into the origins of individual families in North America has revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Shoulders or a variant listed above: George Shouldam arrived in Philadelphia in 1780.