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![Show Contents]() Sharaf History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 England
The ancestry of the name Sharaf can be traced back to the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. It is a name for a person who held the office of sheriff. This occupational surname was originally derived from the Old English words scir meaning shire and refa meaning reeve. The surname was originally derived from the "shire-reeve," a Vice Count who was in charge of the law for a shire or county. 1 Before the Norman Conquest the sheriff was the king's representative in a county, responsible for every aspect of local administration in England. Early Origins of the Sharaf familyThe surname Sharaf was first found in Warwickshire where they held a family seat from early times and their first records appeared on the early census rolls taken by the early Kings of Britain to determine the rate of taxation of their subjects. Early History of the Sharaf familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Sharaf research. Another 77 words (6 lines of text) covering the year 1567 is included under the topic Early Sharaf History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Sharaf Spelling VariationsSharaf has been spelled many different ways. Before English spelling became standardized over the last few hundred years, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. As the English language changed in the Middle Ages, absorbing pieces of Latin and French, as well as other languages, the spelling of people's names also changed considerably, even over a single lifetime. Many variations of the name Sharaf have been found, including Sheriff, Sherrif, Sherriff, Shirreffs, Sheriffs and many more. Early Notables of the Sharaf familyMore information is included under the topic Early Sharaf Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Sharaf familyIn an attempt to escape the chaos experienced in England, many English families boarded overcrowded and diseased ships sailing for the shores of North America and other British colonies. Those families hardy enough, and lucky enough, to make the passage intact were rewarded with land and a social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families became important contributors to the young colonies in which they settled. Early immigration and passenger lists have documented some of the first Sharafs to arrive on North American shores: Richard Sherife, who came to Virginia in 1619; Lewis and Peter Sherive, who settled in Nevis in 1663; William Sheriff, who settled in Boston in 1716; Thomas Sheriffs, who settled in Virginia in 1649.
| Contemporary Notables of the name Sharaf (post 1700) | + |
- Simeon Sharaf, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for New Hampshire State House of Representatives from Concord 8th Ward, 1938 2
- Robert M. Sharaf, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from Connecticut 6th District, 1968 2
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: Esse quam videri
Motto Translation: To be, rather than to seem.
- Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
- The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 29) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
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