Sheerwood History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

Etymology of Sheerwood

What does the name Sheerwood mean?

Sheerwood is a name of ancient Anglo-Saxon origin and comes from a family once 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 Sheerwood family

The surname Sheerwood 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 Sheerwood family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Sheerwood 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 Sheerwood History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Sheerwood Spelling Variations

The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries; therefore,spelling variations are common among early Anglo-Saxon names. As the form of the English language changed, even the spelling of literate people's names evolved. Sheerwood has been recorded under many different variations, including Sherwood, Sherward and others.

Early Notables of the Sheerwood 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 Sheerwood Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Sheerwood family to Ireland

Some of the Sheerwood 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 Sheerwood family

For many English families, the political and religious disarray that shrouded England made the far away New World an attractive prospect. On cramped disease-ridden ships, thousands migrated to those British colonies that would eventually become Canada and the United States. Those hardy settlers that survived the journey often went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Sheerwood or a variant listed above: 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)