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![Show Contents]() Oswoyd History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
In the Middle Ages, Viking immigrants settled the shores of Scotland and named many places. The Oswoyd name was then created from one of these place names. They lived in Caithness. This ancient family claim descent from the Norse Asbaldr, but sometimes records show that the name may have been derived from the personal name Oswald which is made up of the Old English elements os meaning "god," and weald or "rule." [1] "The most famous historical bearer of this name was the Northumbrian Christian King Oswald who fell A.D. 642 in a battle with Penda, king of the Mercians. This battle is traditionally reputed to have taken place at or near Oswestry, formerly Oswaldestre, i.e. Oswald's Cross, which the Welsh called by their equivalent Croes Oswallt. The locality does not, however, seem to be a likely one for a conflict between Northumbrian and Mercian troops. " [2] "When his father was defeated and slain by Rædwald in 617, he and his brothers were driven out of Northumbria, and Oswald, accompanied by a band of young nobles, took shelter with the Scots in Iona, where he was converted to Christianity and baptised. " [3] Early Origins of the Oswoyd familyThe surname Oswoyd was first found in Caithness (Gaelic: Gallaibh), the northern tip of Scotland, a Norse/Viking controlled region from the 9th century, which became the Earldom of Caithness, where they held a family seat from early times and their first records appeared on the census rolls taken by the ancient Kings of Scotland to determine the rate of taxation of their subjects. "The Oswalds of Caithness are descended from James Oswald of Kirkwall, d.c. 1660, and a family of this name has been for more than two centuries resident in Fife." [4] To the south in England, it was "a very early personal name; compare Oswald Kirk, a parish in Yorkshire. 'Osewold the Reve': Chaucer, The Canterbury Tales." [5] Looking back further the Domesday Book of 1086 includes early Latin forms of the name Osuuald, Osuuoldus in Somerset and Surrey respectively. Robertus filius Oswaldi was found in Norfolk in 1240 and much later, John Oswald was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1327. [6] The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 listed Simon Aswald, Oxfordshire, 1273 and the Writs of Parliament of 1325 included John Oswald, Gloucestershire, 1325. [5] Early History of the Oswoyd familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Oswoyd research. Another 107 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 189 and are included under the topic Early Oswoyd History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Oswoyd Spelling VariationsIntuition and sound were the primary sources medieval scribes used to judge appropriate spellings and translations for names. The spelling of a name thus varied according to who was doing the recording. The different spelling variations of Oswoyd include Oswald, Oswalde, Oswold, Oswolde, Oswell and others. Early Notables of the Oswoyd family (pre 1700)Notable amongst the Clan from early times was Saint Oswald (d. 972), Archbishop of York. He was a nephew on his father's side of Archbishop Odo, and related to Oskytel, Archbishop of York, was brought up under the care of Odo, and was instructed by Frithefode. "Having taken orders, he was enabled by Odo's liberality to purchase the monastery of Winchester, then in the hands of secular clerks or canons, over whom he ruled. Being zealous in piety and persuaded of the excellence of monastic life, he was discontented with his life as a secular clerk, and with his position as...
Another 107 words (8 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Oswoyd Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.  Migration of the Oswoyd family to Ireland
Some of the Oswoyd family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 63 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Oswoyd familyIn their new home, Scots found land and opportunity, and some even fought for their new freedom in the American War of Independence. Some, who remained loyal to the crown went north to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. In this century, the ancestors of both of these groups have begun recovering their illustrious national heritage through Clan societies and other Scottish historical organizations. Early immigration and passenger lists indicate many people bearing the Oswoyd name: Henry Oswald who settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1732; Barbara Oswald settled in New York state in 1835; Joseph Oswell settled in Virginia in 1716..
The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.
Motto: Forti favet coelum
Motto Translation: Heaven favours the brave
- Arthur, William , An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. London: 1857. Print
- Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
- Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
- Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
- Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
- Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
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