Nanscawen History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

• Origins Available:
• England

Early Origins of the Nanscawen family

Early History of the Nanscawen family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Nanscawen research. Another 70 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1455 and 1487 are included under the topic Early Nanscawen History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Nanscawen Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Nanscawen are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. Scribes and monks in the Middle Ages spelled names they sounded, so it is common to find several variations that refer to a single person. The variations of the name Nanscawen include: Nanswawen, Nanscawan, Nanswowen, Nanswhydden and others.

Early Notables of the Nanscawen family

Distinguished members of the family include

• the Nanscawen family of Cornwall

Migration of the Nanscawen family

Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Nanscawen or a variant listed above: Arthur Nanscowen, who was on record in the census of Ontario of 1871.