Show ContentsPlewright History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Plewright Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Etymology of Plewright

What does the name Plewright mean?

Plewright is an Anglo-Saxon name. The name was originally given to a person who worked as the ploughwright, a person who built ploughs. 1 2 3 Occupational names frequently were derived from the principal object associated with the activity of the original bearer, such as tools or products. These types of occupational surnames are called metonymic surnames.

Early Origins of the Plewright family

The surname Plewright was first found in Cambridgeshire, where the Hundredorum Rolls of 1279 record William le Plowritte as holding lands there at that time. Later at Wakefield in Yorkshire, Robert le Plogwryth was listed in 1285 and Baldwyn le Ploghwright was found in the Feet of Fines for Suffolk in 1297. 4 The Writs of Parliament list William le Ploughwryte in 1307. Testamenta Eboracensia (Surtees Society) lists Catherine Ploughwright, Yorkshire, but no date was given. 1

In Scotland, the name had a similar occupational meaning, but "plowwryte is defined 'carrucarius.' c. 1440. William Plewryght is recorded in Thornescheillis in 1649 (Pont). George Plowright, indweller in Cunyngham Baidland in 1662 is probably George Plewright, witness at Ayr in the same year." 5

Early History of the Plewright family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Plewright research. Another 73 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1273, 1649, 1662 and 1778 are included under the topic Early Plewright History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Plewright Spelling Variations

One relatively recent invention that did much to standardize English spelling was the printing press. However, before its invention even the most literate people recorded their names according to sound rather than spelling. The spelling variations under which the name Plewright has appeared include Ploughright, Plowright, Plowrite, Ploughrite, Ploughwright and many more.

Early Notables of the Plewright family

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

Migration of the Plewright family

At this time, the shores of the New World beckoned many English families that felt that the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. Thousands left England at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. A great portion of these settlers never survived the journey and even a greater number arrived sick, starving, and without a penny. The survivors, however, were often greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. These English settlers made significant contributions to those colonies that would eventually become the United States and Canada. An examination of early immigration records and passenger ship lists revealed that people bearing the name Plewright arrived in North America very early: Thomas Ploughwright, who sailed to Barbados in 1664 and Mary Plowright, who came to Maryland in 1726.
  1. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  2. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  3. Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
  4. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  5. 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)

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