Shairwood History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

Etymology of Shairwood

What does the name Shairwood mean?

Of all the Anglo-Saxon names to come from Britain, Shairwood is one of the most ancient. The name is a result of the original family having lived in Sherwood found in various locations in Nottingham and Derbyshire. The surname is probably best known in reference to the fabled Sherwood Forest which has been immortalized by the legendary Robin Hood, who according to legend was the Earl of Huntingdon, Robert Fitzooth. William of Sherwood (1190-1249) was a medieval English logician and teacher.

Early Origins of the Shairwood family

The surname Shairwood was first found in Durham, but one of the earliest records of the name was found in the Assize Rolls of Yorkshire of 1219 where Williame de Shirewude was listed. 1

William Shirwood (fl. 1260), was an English schoolman who held the prebend of Ailesbury, Lincoln, in 1245, and was later Treasurer of that church in 1258 and 1267. 2

A few years later, Ralph de Scirewode was listed in Lincolnshire in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273. Alan de Shirewod was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1327. The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 list the following: Margareta de Shyrwode; Alexander de Shyrwode; and Willelmus de Schiwode. 3

Early History of the Shairwood family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Shairwood research. Another 104 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1460, 1464, 1468, 1482, 1494, 1520, 1552, 1579, 1622, 1626, 1632, 1660, 1706, 1740 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Shairwood History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Shairwood Spelling Variations

The first dictionaries that appeared in the last few hundred years did much to standardize the English language. Before that time, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. The language was changing, incorporating pieces of other languages, and the spelling of names changed with it. Shairwood has been spelled many different ways, including Sherwood, Sherward and others.

Early Notables of the Shairwood family

Blessed Thomas Sherwood (c. 1552-1579) an English Catholic layman and martyr. John Shirwood (died 1494), was an English divine, educated at University College, Oxford, Bishop of Durham and Robert Shirwood (fl. 1520), was an English hebraist, was born at Coventry in Warwickshire. Robert Sherwood (fl. 1632), was an English lexicographer, born in Norfolk, entered Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, on 4 July 1622, and graduated B.A. in 1626. Grace Sherwood (1660-1740), called the Witch of Pungo, was convicted...
Another 73 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Shairwood Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Shairwood family to Ireland

Some of the Shairwood family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 146 words (10 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 Shairwood family

Thousands of English families in this era began to emigrate the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. Although the passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe, those who made the voyage safely were rewarded with opportunities unavailable to them in their homeland. Research into passenger and immigration lists has revealed some of the very first Shairwoods to arrive in North America: Peter Sherwood settled in Virginia in 1621; followed by Susan in 1635; John in 1639; Humphrey in 1648; Jane in 1653; Mary in 1656; Thomas, Alice, Rebecca, John, Anna and Rose Sherwood, all settled in Boston in 1634..

Sources +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)