The origins of the Hearnshaw name come from when the Anglo-Saxon tribes ruled over Britain. The name Hearnshaw was originally derived from a family having lived in the settlement of Henshaw in Northumberland, or in the settlement of Henshaw in Prestbury, which is in the county of Cheshire. The surname Hearnshaw belongs to the large category of Anglo-Saxon habitation names, which are derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads.
The surname Hearnshaw was first found in Cheshire 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.
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hearnshaw research. Another 70 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1300, 1628, 1673, 1663, 1608, 1679, 1663, 1618 and 1700 are included under the topic Early Hearnshaw History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
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 Hearnshaw include Henshaw, Henshall, Henshawe and others.
Another 44 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Hearnshaw Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
A great wave of immigration to the New World was the result of the enormous political and religious disarray that struck England at that time. Families left for the New World in extremely large numbers. The long journey was the end of many immigrants and many more arrived sick and starving. Still, those who made it were rewarded with an opportunity far greater than they had known at home in England. These emigrant families went on to make significant contributions to these emerging colonies in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers carried this name or one of its variants: