Earnshaw Surname, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

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The present generation of the Earnshaw family is only the most recent to bear a name that dates back to the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. Their name comes from having lived in or near a woods where golden eagles lived. Earnshaw is a compound of the Old English words earn and sceaga. Earn was the Old English name for the golden eagles, and sceaga was a word that meant forest or wilderness. The original bearer of this name must have lived in or near a woods noted for its eagle population. Interestingly, the modern word erne is the name of the sea eagle, a related but separate species of bird to the golden eagle. Golden eagles are very rare in the British Isles today, but in the Middle Ages they were a common bird of prey. Their range was in the northern part of the island, and they were particularly fond of mountainous terrain. Most golden eagles were found in the Pennines and in the Scottish Highlands.

Earnshaw Early Origins

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The surname Earnshaw was first found in Yorkshire where they held a family seat from very ancient times, some say well before the Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066 A.D.

Earnshaw Spelling Variations

Until the dictionary, an invention of only the last few hundred years, the English language lacked any comprehensive system of spelling rules. Consequently, spelling variations in names are frequently found in early Anglo-Saxon and later Anglo-Norman documents. One person's name was often spelled several different ways over a lifetime. The recorded variations of Earnshaw include Earnshaw, Earnshawe, Ernshaw, Earnshay and others.

Earnshaw Early History

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Earnshaw research. Another 183 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 131 and 1316 are included under the topic Early Earnshaw History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Earnshaw Early Notables (pre 1700)

More information is included under the topic Early Earnshaw Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

The Great Migration

Thousands of English families boarded ships sailing to the New World in the hope of escaping the unrest found in England at this time. Although the search for opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad took the lives of many because of the cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels, the opportunity perceived in the growing colonies of North America beckoned. Many of the settlers who survived the journey went on to make important contributions to the transplanted cultures of their adopted countries. The Earnshaw were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records:

Earnshaw Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Eli Earnshaw, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1848
Francis, George, and Lewis Earnshaw, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1860
John Earnshaw, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1876

Contemporary Notables of the name Earnshaw (post 1700)

Charlotte Earnshaw, American Democrat politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from New Jersey, 1952 ^[1]CITATION[CLOSE]
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 7) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
Thomas Earnshaw (1749-1829), English watchmaker who first simplified the process of chronometer production
Anthony Earnshaw (1924-2001), English anarchist and surrealist author and illustrator
Brigadier Philip Earnshaw (1892-1978), District Officer Commanding 1st Military District (1944-1945) ^[2]CITATION[CLOSE]
Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2011, September 15) Philip Earnshaw. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Earnshaw/Philip/Canada.html
Brian Earnshaw (b. 1929), British science fiction author, primarily known for his Dragonfall 5 series
Adrian John Earnshaw (b. 1950), Minister of Tourism and Leisure in the Isle of Man Government

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Citations

^ The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 7) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
^ Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2011, September 15) Philip Earnshaw. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Earnshaw/Philip/Canada.html

Other References

Hanks, Patricia and Flavia Hodges. A Dictionary of Surnames. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1988. Print. (ISBN 0-19-211592-8).
Shirley, Evelyn Philip. Noble and Gentle Men of England Or Notes Touching The Arms and Descendants of the Ancient Knightley and Gentle Houses of England Arranged in their Respective Counties 3rd Edition. Westminster: John Bowyer Nichols and Sons, 1866. Print.
Robb H. Amanda and Andrew Chesler. Encyclopedia of American Family Names. New York: Haper Collins, 1995. Print. (ISBN 0-06-270075-8).
Magnusson, Magnus. Chambers Biographical Dictionary 5th edition. Edinburgh: W & R Chambers, 1990. Print.
Lennard, Reginald. Rural England 1086-1135 A Study of Social and Agrarian Conditions. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1959. Print.
Matthews, John. Matthews' American Armoury and Blue Book. London: John Matthews, 1911. Print.
Ingram, Rev. James. Translator Anglo-Saxon Chronicle 1823. Print.
Bowman, George Ernest. The Mayflower Reader A Selection of Articales from The Mayflower Descendent. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing. Print.
Skordas, Guest. Ed. The Early Settlers of Maryland an Index to Names or Immigrants Complied from Records of Land Patents 1633-1680 in the Hall of Records Annapolis, Maryland. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1968. Print.
Library of Congress. American and English Genealogies in the Library of Congress. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1967. Print.
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The Earnshaw Family Crest was acquired from the Houseofnames.com archives. The Earnshaw Family Crest was drawn according to heraldic standards based on published blazons. We generally include the oldest published family crest once associated with each surname.

This page was last modified on 27 January 2017 at 08:41.