The
Norman Conquest of
England in 1066 brought much change, including many immigrants with new names. Among these were the ancestors of the Belshaw family, whose name comes from the Old Norse word which means
good friends. The name appears in the oldest of all English plays
The Mystery Plays. "Lo, here is the Belshere broght ye had bring". A parochial name from Bellecourt, near Perrone in
Normandy, it is believed to have arrived in
England with the
Norman Conquest and the name appears on the
Roll of the Battel Abbey as
Bellesur.Early Origins of the Belshaw family
The surname Belshaw was first found in
Gloucestershire where they had been granted lands by King William for their assistance at the Battle of Hastings in 1066. Anciently the family held the lands of Bellecourt in
Normandy, to which they gave name.
Early History of the Belshaw family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Belshaw research.
Another 189 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1273, 1500, 1681, 1757, 1730, 1741, 1730, 1741, 1747 and 1757 are included under the topic Early Belshaw History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Belshaw Spelling Variations
Norman surnames are characterized by a multitude of
spelling variations. The frequent changes in surnames are largely due to the fact that the Old and Middle English languages lacked definite spelling rules. The introduction of Norman French to
England, as well as the official court languages of Latin and French, also had pronounced influences on the spelling of surnames. Since medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, rather than adhering to any specific spelling rules, it was common to find the same individual referred to with different spellings. The name has been spelled Belcher, Belsher, Belleser, Bellcher, Bellsher, Beleser, Bellesur, Bellecourt, Belcourt and many more.
Early Notables of the Belshaw family (pre 1700)
Another 41 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Belshaw Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Belshaw family to Ireland
Some of the Belshaw family moved to
Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 49 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Belshaw family to the New World and Oceana
Many English families emigrated to North American colonies in order to escape the political chaos in Britain at this time. Unfortunately, many English families made the trip to the New World under extremely harsh conditions. Overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the stormy Atlantic. Despite these hardships, many of the families prospered and went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the United States and Canada. Early North American immigration records have revealed a number of people bearing the name Belshaw or a variant listed above:
Belshaw Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
- Robert Belshaw, who arrived in Charleston, South Carolina in 1808 [1]CITATION[CLOSE]
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Belshaw Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
- Esther Belshaw, aged 17, a machinist, who arrived in Hawkes Bay aboard the ship "Countess of Kintore" in 1875
Contemporary Notables of the name Belshaw (post 1700)
- George Phelps Mellick Belshaw, American cleric, the 9th Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of New Jersey from 1983 to 1994
- Elliott Belshaw, American Republican politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from Indiana 1st District, 1940, 1952; Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Indiana, 1956
- Les Belshaw, English professional rugby league footballer active in the 1950s
- William "Billy" Belshaw, English professional rugby league footballer active in the 1930s and 1940s, member of the England and Great Britain National Teams (1935-1937)
- Cyril Shirley Belshaw (b. 1921), New Zealand anthropologist, and was professor of anthropology at the University of British Columbia (UBC) from 1953 to 1987
- Horace Belshaw (1898-1962), English-born, New Zealand teacher, economist and university professor, awarded the King George V Silver Jubilee Medal in 1935
- Scott Belshaw (b. 1985), nicknamed "Ding Ding", Northern Irish professional heavyweight boxer
The Belshaw Motto
The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.
Motto: Loyal au mort
Motto Translation: Faithful unto death.