Fenshaw History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The Anglo-Saxon name Fenshaw comes from when the family resided at Fanshawe Gate Hall in the county of Derbyshire. 1

Another source notes that name was derived from "fane, a temple or church, and shaw, a small wood or grove, a thicket—the church in the grove." 2

Early Origins of the Fenshaw family

The surname Fenshaw was first found in Derbyshire. The family held high distinction at Fanshawe Gate from early times. This was the site where Thomas Fanshawe (1533-1601), the Queen's Remembrancer and his descendants hailed.

Earlier John ffawnchall, Fanshawe was listed here in 1490. 1

Very little is known of the earlier lineage apart from the fact that he was the eldest son of John Fanshawe of Fanshawe Gate and had an uncle name Henry Fanshawe. In addition to Fanshawe Gate, he held estates in Ware Park, Hertfordshire and Jenkins, in Barking, Essex; presumably some were inherited through the family.

Early History of the Fenshaw family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Fenshaw research. Another 69 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1533, 1569, 1596, 1601, 1608, 1616, 1621, 1625, 1661, 1665, 1666 and 1680 are included under the topic Early Fenshaw History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Fenshaw Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, French and other languages became incorporated into English through the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Fenshaw include Fanshaw, Fanshawe and others.

Early Notables of the Fenshaw family

Distinguished members of the family include Thomas Fanshawe (1533-1601), English Remembrancer of the Exchequer; Sir Henry Fanshawe (1569-1616), an English Remembrancer of the Exchequer; Thomas Fanshawe, 1st Viscount Fanshawe KB (1596-1665), an English politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1621 and 1661, supporter of the Royalist cause in the...
Another 51 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Fenshaw Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Fenshaw migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Fenshaw Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Caroline Fenshaw, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Oliver Lang" in 1858

Citations +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Arthur, William , An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. London: 1857. Print