Show ContentsSchofields History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Schofields

What does the name Schofields mean?

Schofields is a name whose history on English soil dates back to the wave of migration that followed the Norman Conquest of England of 1066. The Schofields family lived in Lancashire. Their name, however, is a reference to Escoville, Normandy, the family's place of residence prior to the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. 1

Early Origins of the Schofields family

The surname Schofields was first found in Lancashire at Schofield, in East Rochdale in the township of Butterworth. The first record of the family was John de Scholefeld who held lands here during the reign of Edward I. 2

Schofield Hall in Hollingworth was in the hands of the same family for over 400 years and their association with the district dates back to John De Schofield in 1310 who held lands there at that time.

"Schofield, a name also established in Lancashire, under which county further reference will be found, is now numerously represented in the Huddersfield and Leeds districts." 3

Early History of the Schofields family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Schofields research. Another 115 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1363, 1688, 1744, 1789, 1809, 1812, 1813, 1814, 1815, 1836, 1844, 1853 and 1867 are included under the topic Early Schofields History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Schofields Spelling Variations

A multitude of spelling variations characterize Norman surnames. Many variations occurred because Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules. The introduction of Norman French to England also had a pronounced effect, as did the court languages of Latin and French. Therefore, one person was often referred to by several different spellings in a single lifetime. The various spellings include Scofield, Schofield, Scholefield and others.

Early Notables of the Schofields family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was James Scholefield (1789-1853), Regius professor of Greek at Cambridge, born on 15 Nov. 1789, at Henley-on-Thames, where his father was an independent minister. "He was educated at Christ's Hospital, where he won many distinctions. In October 1809 he was sent by the governors to Trinity College, Cambridge, and in...
Another 57 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Schofields Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Schofields family

Many English families left England, to avoid the chaos of their homeland and migrated to the many British colonies abroad. Although the conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and some travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute, once in the colonies, many of the families prospered and made valuable contributions to the cultures of what would become the United States and Canada. Research into the origins of individual families in North America has revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Schofields or a variant listed above: Abraham, Charles, Edmund, Edward, Henry, James, John, Joseph, Peter, Thomas, William, and Wright Schofield all arrived in Philadelphia between 1800 and 1870.



  1. The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
  2. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  3. Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.


Houseofnames.com on Facebook