Contents [hide]

Sherwood History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Ireland United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Suggested Reading Citations

Sherwood History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The ancestry of the name Sherwood dates from the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. It comes from when the family 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 Sherwood family

The surname Sherwood 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 Sherwood family

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

Sherwood Spelling Variations

Spelling variations in names were a common occurrence before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate spelled their names differently as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Sherwood have been found, including Sherwood, Sherward and others.

Early Notables of the Sherwood family

Distinguished members of the family include

Blessed Thomas Sherwood (c. 1552-1579) an English Catholic layman and martyr
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 of witchcraft in 1706 in Virginia after a vengeful Luke Hill lost a trespass, assault and battery case to her the previous year. He...

Sherwood Ranking

In the United States, the name Sherwood is the 1,794^th most popular surname with an estimated 17,409 people with that name. 4

Migration of the Sherwood family to Ireland

Some of the Sherwood 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.

Sherwood migration to the United States +

Families began migrating abroad in enormous numbers because of the political and religious discontent in England. Often faced with persecution and starvation in England, the possibilities of the New World attracted many English people. Although the ocean trips took many lives, those who did get to North America were instrumental in building the necessary groundwork for what would become for new powerful nations. Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America bore the name Sherwood, or a variant listed above:

Sherwood Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Peter Sherwood, aged 21, who arrived in Virginia in 1621 aboard the ship "Flying Hart" 5
Peceable Sherwood, who arrived in Jamestown, Va in 1624 5
Rebecca Sherwood, aged 9, who arrived in New England in 1634 aboard the ship "Francis" 5
Rose Sherwood, aged 11, who landed in New England in 1634 aboard the ship "Francis" 5
Thomas Sherwood, who arrived in Boston, Massachusetts in 1634 5
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Sherwood Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Jacob Sherwood, who arrived in Virginia in 1701 5

Sherwood Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Nancy Sherwood, who landed in New York in 1811 5
Henry Sherwood, who arrived in New York in 1834 5
W K Sherwood, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1849 5
J A Sherwood, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1850 5
J W Sherwood, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1850 5
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Sherwood migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Sherwood Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

James Sherwood, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1750
Mr. Reuben Sherwood U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1784 6
Mr. Abel Sherwood U.E. who settled in Home District [Niagara], Ontario c. 1784 6
Mr. Adriah Sherwood U.E., (Abijah) who settled in Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1784 6
Mr. Andrew Sherwood U.E. who settled in Carleton [Saint John City], New Brunswick c. 1784 6
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Sherwood Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

William Sherwood, aged 21, who arrived in Montreal in 1841

Sherwood migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Sherwood Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Charles Sherwood, English convict who was convicted in London, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Florentia" on 11th August 1830, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 7
Miss Ann Sherwood, English Convict who was convicted in London, England for 15 years, transported aboard the "Atwick" on 28 September 1837, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 8
Edward Sherwood, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Cleveland" in 1839 9
William Sherwood, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "British Sovereign" in 1847 10
James Sherwood, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Bolton" in 1849 11
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Sherwood 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:

Sherwood Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

John Sherwood, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Mermaid" in 1859 12
Mr. John Sherwood, British settler travelling from Liverpool aboard the ship 'Mermaid' arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 19th October 1859 13

Contemporary Notables of the name Sherwood (post 1700) +

James B. Sherwood (1933-2020), American-born, British-based businessman
Brigadier-General Elmer William Sherwood (1896-1979), American Adjutant-General of Indiana in 1945 14
Alison Sherwood, American co-winner of the 2011 Pulitzer Prize for Explanatory Reporting
Thomas Kilgore Sherwood (1903-1976), American chemical engineer, creator of the Sherwood number
Samuel Sherwood UE (b. 1821), American-born, Canadian lawyer and political figure in Upper Canada
Bobby Sherwood (1914-1981), American trumpet player, bandleader, actor and composer
William Wyman "Billy" Sherwood (b. 1965), American musician, best known for his work with the rock group "Yes"
Bradley R "Brad" Sherwood (b. 1964), American television actor, comedian, writer, and producer
Robert Emmet Sherwood (1896-1955), American playwright, editor, and screenwriter awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Drama three times (1936, 1939, and 1941) and the Pulitzer Prize for Biography in 1948
Addiel Sherwood, American politician, Member of New York State Assembly from Washington County, 1784-85 15
... (Another 79 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Sherwood family +

HMS Royal Oak

Jesse Sherwood, British Leading Seaman with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he survived the sinking 16

Citations +

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)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
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)
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 11th October 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/florentia
Convict Records of Australia. Retreived 23rd August 2020 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/atwick
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) CLEVELAND 1839. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1839Cleveland.htm
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) BRITISH SOVEREIGN 1847. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1847BritishSovereign.htm
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) The BOLTON 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849Bolton.htm
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 5th November 2010). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2014, March 26) Elmer Sherwood. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Sherwood/Elmer_William/USA.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 23) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
Ships hit by U-boats crew list HMS Royal Oak (08) - (Retrieved 2018 February, 9th) - retrieved from https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship68.html