Sharp History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland
Ireland
England

Etymology of Sharp

What does the name Sharp mean?

A family of Strathclyde-Briton were the first to use the name Sharp. They lived in Peeblesshire. The name Sharp is derived from the Old English scearp meaning "sharp" or "keen." 1

Early Origins of the Sharp family

The surname Sharp was first found in Peeblesshire, where "there are few early notices of this surname. William Scharp was a tenant of the earl of Douglas in the barony of Kilbucho in 1376. Later, Patrick Sharp held land in Denburn in 1439 and John Scharpe was merchant and bailie of Dumfries, 1656." 2

"This name is rare or absent in the south-west of England and in the south coast counties, excluding Kent. It is also, generally speaking, infrequent in the north, except in the West Riding and in Cumberland and Westmorland. It is mostly crowded into Lincolnshire, Leicestershire and Rutlandshire, and Nottinghamshire, extending also into the adjacent counties; but it is also fairly numerous in Kent. In Scotland it finds its home in Perthshire in the form of Sharp." 3

So as to confirm the preceding entry, the source Old English Bynames includes the Saxon entry for Healðegn Scearpa in Kent in 1026. Other early entries include: Ailmer Scharp in the Pipe Rolls for Herefordshire in 1184; Richard Serp in the Curia Regis Rolls for Cambridgeshire in 1210; Aylmer Sarp in the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1228; and Alan Sharp in the Subsidy Rolls for Sussex in 1296. 4

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 listed: Alexander Scharp, Buckinghamshire; John Scharp, Sussex; and William Scharpe, Lincolnshire. Later the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 included: Adam Scharpe and Leticia Scharppe. 5

Early History of the Sharp family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Sharp research. Another 159 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1431, 1433, 1454, 1474, 1535, 1613, 1618, 1638, 1639, 1643, 1644, 1650, 1651, 1661, 1679, 1681, 1689, 1691, 1702, 1707, 1714, 1735, 1742 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Sharp History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Sharp Spelling Variations

In the era before dictionaries, there were no rules governing the spelling or translation of names or any other words. Consequently, there are an enormous number of spelling variations in Medieval Scottish names. Sharp has appeared as Sharp, Sharpe, Scharpe, Scharp, Schearpe and many more.

Early Notables of the Sharp family

Jack Sharp (d. 1431), and English Lollard rebel, a weaver of Abingdon
George Sharpe (d. 1638), Scottish professor of medicine who studied medicine at Montpellier
James Sharp (1613-1679) Scottish Presbyterian minister, leader of the "Resolutioners," and later, Archbishop of St Andrews (1661-1679)
John Sharp (c. 1644-1714), English divine, Archbishop of York (1691-1714) and Dean of Canterbury (1689-1691)
Abraham Sharp (1651-1742), English schoolmaster, mathematician and astronomer, eponym of the lunar crater so named
Bartholomew Sharp (c.1650-1702), English buccaneer whose career lasted only three years

Sharp World Ranking

the United States, the name Sharp is the 332^nd most popular surname with an estimated 82,071 people with that name. 6 However, in Canada, the name Sharp is ranked the 897^th most popular surname with an estimated 5,992 people with that name. 7 And in Australia, the name Sharp is the 259^th popular surname with an estimated 13,309 people with that name. 8 New Zealand ranks Sharp as 235^th with 2,522 people. 9 The United Kingdom ranks Sharp as 196^th with 28,903 people. 10

Migration of the Sharp family to Ireland

Some of the Sharp family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 116 words (8 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Sharp migration to the United States +

The freedom, opportunity, and land of the North American colonies beckoned. There, Scots found a place where they were generally free from persecution and where they could go on to become important players in the birth of new nations. Some fought in the American War of Independence, while others went north to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. The ancestors of all of these Scottish settlers have been able to recover their lost national heritage in the last century through highland games and Clan societies in North America. Among them:

Sharp Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

William Sharp, aged 40, who arrived in Virginia in 1611 aboard the ship "Starr" 12
Mrs. Elizabeth Sharp, aged 25, who arrived in Virginia in 1620 aboard the ship "Bonaventure" 12
Mrs. Judith Sharp, who arrived in Virginia in 1623 12
Samuel Sharp, who landed in Salem in 1629 aboard the ship "George Bonaventure" 12
Thomas Sharp, who landed in Boston, Massachusetts in 1630 12
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Sharp Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

John Sharp, who landed in Leeward Islands in 1700-1701 12
Thomas Sharp, who arrived in Virginia in 1701 12
Benj Sharp, who landed in Virginia in 1704 12
Robert Sharp, who arrived in Virginia in 1704 12
Richard Sharp, who landed in Virginia in 1704 12
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Sharp Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Pieter Sharp, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1801 12
Richard Sharp, who arrived in America in 1801 12
Robert Sharp, who arrived in America in 1811 12
Alexander Sharp, who landed in Virginia in 1811-1816 12
Calvin Sharp, who landed in New York, NY in 1812 12
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Sharp migration to Canada +

Sharp Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

William Sharp, who settled in St. John's Harbour, Newfoundland, in 1703 13
John Sharp, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1749
John Sharp, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1750
Sarah Sharp, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1750
Thomas Sharp, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1750
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Sharp Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Mary Sharp, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1835
Ichabod Sharp, who landed in Canada in 1841
Robert Sharp, who arrived in Canada in 1841
Walter Sharp, who arrived in Canada in 1841

Sharp Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century

D Sharp, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1907

Sharp migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia included the Second Fleet and Third Fleet of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Second Fleet

Mr. Robert Sharp, British settler convicted in Derbyshire, England in 1789, sentenced to 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the ship "Admiral Barrington" leaving in 1790 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1791 11
Mr. James Sharp, (d. 1791), British settler convicted in Kent, England in 1788, sentenced to 7 years for felony, transported aboard the ship "Albermarle" leaving in 1790 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1791 12

Third Fleet

Mr. George Sharp, (b. 1750), aged 37, English convicted in Durham, Durham on 25th July 1785, sentenced for 7 years for theft, transported aboard the ship "Alexander" leaving in 1787 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1788, he died aboard the ship 12

Following the Second and Third Fleets, other convicts and early settlers arriving in Australia include:

Sharp Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Joseph Sharp, British Convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Earl Cornwallis" in August 1800, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 14
Mr. William Sharp, English convict who was convicted in Berkshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Baring" in April 1815, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 15
Mr. John Sharp, English convict who was convicted in Surrey, England for life, transported aboard the "Dromedary" on 11th September 1819, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 16
Mr. Joseph Sharp who was convicted in Hertfordshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Dick" on 2nd October 1820, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 17
Mr. John Sharp, Scottish convict who was convicted in Edinburgh, Scotland for life, transported aboard the "Chapman" on 12th April 1826, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 18
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Sharp migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Sharp Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Captain Sharp, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Mandarin" arriving in Wellington, New Zealand on 21st May 1841 19
Charles Sharp, who arrived in Port Nicholson aboard the ship "Mandarin" in 1841
Charles Sharp, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1841 aboard the ship Mandarin
Stephen Sharp, aged 39, who landed in Nelson, New Zealand in 1842 aboard the ship Bolton
William Sharp, aged 21, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Duchess of Argyle" in 1842
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Sharp migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 20

Sharp Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

Mr. Thomas Sharp, (b. 1618), aged 17, British settler travelling aboard the ship "The Dorset" arriving in Barbados in September 1635 21
Tho Sharp, aged 26, who arrived in Barbados in 1682-1683 12

Contemporary Notables of the name Sharp (post 1700) +

Bob Sharp (1939-2025), American racing driver, owner of Bob Sharp Racing, father of Scott Sharp, an American professional racing driver, known for his years as a competitor in the Indy Racing League
James A. Sharp Jr. (1933-2023), American politician, Mayor of the City of Flint, Michigan, the second "strong" mayor under Flint's 1974 Charter
George Kendall Sharp (1934-2022), American jurist, Senior United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida (2000-2022)
Gene Sharp (1928-2018), American founder of the Albert Einstein Institution from North Baltimore, Ohio
Kevin Grant Sharp (1970-2014), American country music singer, author, and motivational speaker
Major-General William Frederick Sharp (1885-1947), American Commanding General Central Philippines Force, Philippines in 1942 22
Phillip Allen Sharp (b. 1944), American geneticist and molecular biologist, co-discovered gene splicing, co-shared the 1993 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine
Phil Sharp, American Emmy Award winning screenwriter
Lester Whyland Sharp (1887-1961), American botanist, pioneer in cytogenetics
... (Another 28 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Sharp family +

Fraterville mine

Mr. Jacob Sharp (d. 1902), American coal miner at Fraterville mine in Tennessee, on the 19th May 1902 when an explosion collapsed the mine; he died 23
Mr. Roscoe Sharp (d. 1902), American coal miner at Fraterville mine in Tennessee, on the 19th May 1902 when an explosion collapsed the mine; he died 24
Mr. Benjamin Sharp (d. 1902), American coal miner at Fraterville mine in Tennessee, on the 19th May 1902 when an explosion collapsed the mine; he died 24
Mr. Alex Sharp (d. 1902), American coal miner at Fraterville mine in Tennessee, on the 19th May 1902 when an explosion collapsed the mine; he died 24
Mr. Frank Sharp (d. 1902), American coal miner at Fraterville mine in Tennessee, on the 19th May 1902 when an explosion collapsed the mine; he died 24
... (Another 13 entries are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

The Sharp Motto +

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: Dum spiro spero
Motto Translation: While I have breath I hope.

Sources +

Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
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)
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. 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)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
"UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
Convict Records of Australia. Retrieved 4th February 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Seary E.R., Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland, Montreal: McGill's-Queen's Universtity Press 1998 ISBN 0-7735-1782-0
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 13th August 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-cornwallis
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/baring
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th July 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/dromedary
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 8th July 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/Dick
Convict Records of Australia. Retreived 28th January 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/chapman
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
Pilgrim Ship Lists Early 1600's retrieved 29th September 2021. Retrieved from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2014, March 26) William Sharp. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Sharp/William_Frederick/USA.html
News paper article Fraterville Mine Disaster retrieved on 6th August 2021. Retrieved from http://www.tn.gov/tsla/exhibits/disasters/fraterville.htm