Shays History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

Etymology of Shays

What does the name Shays mean?

The ancestors of the Shays surname lived among the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. The name comes from when they lived near a small wood or shaw. Shays is a topographic surname, which was given to a person who resided near a physical feature such as a hill, stream, church, or type of tree. The surname Shays is believed to be derived from the Old English word sceaga, which means dweller by the wood.

Early Origins of the Shays family

The surname Shays was first found in Berkshire, where they were established in the 12th century.

Early History of the Shays family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Shays research. Another 99 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1191, 1281, 1307, 1388, 1407, 1615, 1617, 1635, 1659, 1660, 1661, 1679, 1680, 1690, 1696, 1780, 1815 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Shays History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Shays Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, French and other languages became incorporated into English through the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Shays include Shaw, Shawe, Shave, Sheaves, Shaves, Shay, Shayes and many more.

Early Notables of the Shays family

John Shawe (died 1407), of Oxford, English politician, Member of the Parliament of England (MP) for Oxford in 1388; Sir John Shaw, 1st Baronet (c 1615-1680), an English merchant and politician, Member of Parliament for Lyme Regis (1661-1679); Sir John Shaw (c 1617-1690) , an English politician...
Another 46 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Shays Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Shays family to Ireland

Some of the Shays family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 72 words (5 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 Shays family

A great wave of immigration to the New World was the result of the enormous political and religious disarray that struck England at that time. Families left for the New World in extremely large numbers. The long journey was the end of many immigrants and many more arrived sick and starving. Still, those who made it were rewarded with an opportunity far greater than they had known at home in England. These emigrant families went on to make significant contributions to these emerging colonies in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers carried this name or one of its variants: John Shaw, who settled in Virginia in 1638; Thomas Shaw, who settled in Nova Scotia in 1750; James Shaw, who settled in Virginia in 1655; Thomas Shave settled in Massachusetts in 1637.

Contemporary Notables of the name Shays (post 1700) +

Daniel Shays (1747-1825), American soldier, revolutionary, and farmer, known as one of the leaders of Shays' Rebellion (1786-1787) in Massachusetts

The Shays 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: Vincit qui patitur
Motto Translation: He conquers who endures.