| ![Show Contents]() Bolshow History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
England
Etymology of BolshowWhat does the name Bolshow mean? The surname Bolshow is generally thought to have been from Balshaw which "probably meant Bald(a)’s Wood from the Middle English shaw (e) + the Old English word scaga, a thicket, wood." 1 This is presumably one of the lost villages of England, as we can find no trace of it today. However, today Balshaw's Church of England High School is located in Leyland, Lancashire. Early Origins of the Bolshow familyThe surname Bolshow was first found in Lancashire, where they held a family seat from ancient times at Balshaw, near Lathom. 2 The record of the family was Robert de Balsagh who was listed in the Assize Rolls for 1246. Later, the same rolls recorded Robert Balshagh in 1401. 3 The Lay Subsidy Rolls for Lancashire included: Adam de Balshagh; and John de Balshagh as both holding lands there in 1332. Early History of the Bolshow familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bolshow research. Another 202 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1246, 1258, 1265, 1332, 1401, 1512, 1522, 1608, 1622 and 1628 are included under the topic Early Bolshow History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Bolshow Spelling VariationsOne relatively recent invention that did much to standardize English spelling was the printing press. However, before its invention even the most literate people recorded their names according to sound rather than spelling. The spelling variations under which the name Bolshow has appeared include Balshaw, Balshawe, Ballshaw, Balsagh, Balshagh, Balshay and many more. Early Notables of the Bolshow familyMore information is included under the topic Early Bolshow Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Bolshow familyAt this time, the shores of the New World beckoned many English families that felt that the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. Thousands left England at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. A great portion of these settlers never survived the journey and even a greater number arrived sick, starving, and without a penny. The survivors, however, were often greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. These English settlers made significant contributions to those colonies that would eventually become the United States and Canada. An examination of early immigration records and passenger ship lists revealed that people bearing the name Bolshow arrived in North America very early: Susanna Balshaw, who sailed to Maryland in 1674.
- Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
- Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
- Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
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