Grimsshaw History, Family Crest & Coats of ArmsEtymology of GrimsshawWhat does the name Grimsshaw mean? The Grimsshaw name has descended through the generations from the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. Their name comes from having lived in the hamlet of Grimshaw, now part of Eccleshill in Lancashire. The name is derived from "Grimshaw, some woody place in South Lancashire, called no doubt after its earliest possessor, Grim. The surname is very common in Lancashire and Yorkshire." 1 Early Origins of the Grimsshaw familyThe surname Grimsshaw was first found in Lancashire where Richard de Grymeschagh, de Grymeschawe was listed in the 13th century and in the Assize Rolls for Lancashire in 1284. Later, Henry de Grimeshagh was listed in Lancashire in 1400. 2 Adam de Grymeshawe was listed at Tottington, Lancashire, 20 Edward I (during the twentieth year of King Edward I's reign.) 1 Early History of the Grimsshaw familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Grimsshaw research. Another 172 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1190, 1575, 1579, 1618, 1708, 1731, 1734 and 1763 are included under the topic Early Grimsshaw History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Grimsshaw Spelling VariationsOnly recently has spelling become standardized in the English language. As the English language evolved in the Middle Ages, the spelling of names changed also. The name Grimsshaw has undergone many spelling variations, including Grimshaw, Grimshawe, Grimshor, Grinshaw, Grimshore, Grinshore, Gremshaw, Grimshall, Grimeshaw, Grimsshaw, Grinshaw and many more. Early Notables of the Grimsshaw familyNotables of the family at this time include William Grimshaw (1708-1763), was "incumbent of Haworth, Yorkshire, was born at Brindle, Lancashire, on 3 Sept. 1708. He was educated at the grammar schools of Blackburn and Hesketh, and at the age of eighteen went to Christ's College, Cambridge. In 1731 he was ordained deacon, and became curate of Rochdale, but in the same year... Migration of the Grimsshaw familyTo escape the unstable social climate in England of this time, many families boarded ships for the New World with the hope of finding land, opportunity, and greater religious and political freedom. Although the voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, those families that arrived often found greater opportunities and freedoms than they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make significant contributions to the rapidly developing colonies in which they settled. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Grimsshaw were among those contributors: William Grimshaw who was farming in Virginia in 1656 and another Grimshaw had established himself in Maryland a few years earlier in 1698; Judith Grimshaw settled in Georgia in 1737.
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