Shadrack History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The Shadrack surname derives from the Middle English word "scheldrake," a type of brightly colored duck, from the East Anglian dialect term "scheld," meaning "variegated," and "drake," a "male duck." It has been suggested that the surname evolved from a nickname for a vain or showy person. 1

Early Origins of the Shadrack family

The surname Shadrack was first found in Essex where Roger Scheldrac was the first listing of the family who appeared in the Pipe Rolls of 1195. 2 Later, the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 listed Adam Sceyldrake in Suffolk. 3

Early History of the Shadrack family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Shadrack research. Another 78 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1195, 1275, 1632, 1662, 1756 and 1802 are included under the topic Early Shadrack History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Shadrack Spelling Variations

Sound was what guided spelling in the essentially pre-literate Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Also, before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Therefore, spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Shadrack family name include Shelldrake, Sheldrake, Shelldrick, Shelldrick, Sheldrick, Shelldrack, Sheldrack, Shelldreck and many more.

Early Notables of the Shadrack family

Another 46 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Shadrack Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Shadrack migration to Australia +

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

Shadrack Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Robert Shadrack, aged 34, a carpenter, who arrived in South Australia in 1854 aboard the ship "Ostrich" 4

Contemporary Notables of the name Shadrack (post 1700) +

William Shadrack Shallenberger (1839-1914), American politician, Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania
Shadrack Byfield (1789-1874), British infantryman who served in the 41st Regiment during the War of 1812, best known for his memoir of his wartime experiences, "A Narrative of a Light Company Soldier's Service"

Citations +

Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
South Australian Register Saturday 22nd July 1854. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Ostrich 1854. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/ostrich1854.shtml