Show ContentsOldershaw History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Oldershaw reached England in the great wave of migration following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Oldershaw family lived in Cambridgeshire, at Wrench.

Early Origins of the Oldershaw family

The surname Oldershaw was first found in Cambridgeshire where they held a family seat as Lords of the manor of Haddenham. Conjecturally they are descended from one of seven Freemen who held this village from the Abbot of Ely. Haddenham was included in the Domesday Book, 1 a census taken in 1086 and initiated by Duke William of Normandy after his conquest of England in 1066 A.D.

Early History of the Oldershaw family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Oldershaw research. Another 98 words (7 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Oldershaw History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Oldershaw Spelling Variations

Before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Sound was what guided spelling in the Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Oldershaw family name include Rench, Wrench, Renche, Wrenche and others.

Early Notables of the Oldershaw family

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


Australia Oldershaw migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Oldershaw Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. John Oldershaw, English convict who was convicted in London, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Cressy" on 28th April 1843, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 2
  • Mr. Thomas Oldershaw, Jr., English convict who was convicted in Leicester, Leicestershire, England for 10 years, transported aboard the "China" on 144th January 1846, arriving in Norfolk Island, Australia 3

Contemporary Notables of the name Oldershaw (post 1700) +

  • Juan J. Oldershaw, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for Connecticut State House of Representatives from Willington, 1902, 1904 4

HMS Hood
  • Mr. Arthur Oldershaw (b. 1919), English Leading Stoker serving for the Royal Navy from Harborne, Warwickshire, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 5


  1. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  2. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 21st May 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/cressy
  3. Convict Records of Australia. Retrieved 5th February 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/china
  4. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 7) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  5. H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm


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