England
IrelandThe 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". [1] 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. [2]
The surname Belshaw was first found in Yorkshire, where the Assize Rolls of 1219 list Thomas Belcher as holding lands at that time. [3] A few years later, Richard Belcchere was listed in Gloucestershire in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273. The same rolls listed John Belsire in Kent. [1]
"Belcher has long been an Oxfordshire name. It was established in Enstone in the 16th and 17th centuries. William Belcher, yeoman, of Steeple Aston, presented his son, Thomas Belcher, to the incumbency of Westcot Barton in 1640. Samuel Belcher, apothecary, died at Deddington in 1668. " [4]
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Belshaw research. Another 158 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1453, 1530, 1539, 1553, 1563, 1673, 1783, 1681, 1757, 1730, 1741, 1730, 1741, 1747, 1757, 1580 and 1621 are included under the topic Early Belshaw History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
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.
Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Jonathan Belcher (1681-1757), an American merchant, businessman, and politician, Governor of the Province of Massachusetts Bay (1730-1741), Governor of the Province of...
Another 29 words (2 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 IrelandSome of the Belshaw family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 30 words (2 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Belshaw migration to the United States +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 migration to New Zealand +
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