Show ContentsStrangmway History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Anglo-Saxon name Strangmway comes from when the family resided in the settlement of Strangeways in the county of Lancashire. The surname Strangmway belongs to the large category of Anglo-Saxon habitation names, which are derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads.

Early Origins of the Strangmway family

The surname Strangmway was first found in Lancashire where it is generally thought that the name was derived from Strangwish, near Manchester which was held by the family in the 14th century. [1] In fact, the English "Gentleman Pirate" Henry Strangways (died 1562) often spelt his name "Strangwish."

Of note in early times was Thomas Strangeways (c. 1395-before 1442), husband of Katherine Strangeways who together had two daughters: Joan Strangeways, who first married Sir William Willoughby, before 20 July 1461; and Katherine Strangeways, who married Henry Grey, 4th (7th) Baron Grey of Codnor, 29 August 1454.

James Strangeways of Fyfield, a gentleman usher of the King's Chamber in London was the second husband of Lady Catherine Gordon (c. 1474-1537) and was married before 13 February 1512.

Early History of the Strangmway family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Strangmway research. Another 154 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1516, 1562, 1585, 1614, 1615, 1636, 1640, 1661, 1666, 1675 and 1676 are included under the topic Early Strangmway History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Strangmway 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. Strangmway has been recorded under many different variations, including Strangways, Strangeways, Strangwich, Strangwish, Strangeway and many more.

Early Notables of the Strangmway family

Distinguished members of the family include Sir James Strangeways (died 1516), an English politician, Speaker of the House of Commons, the son of Sir James Strangeways of Whorlton, Yorkshire; Sir John Strangways (1585-1666), an English politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1614 and 1666, he supported the Royalist side...
Another 51 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Strangmway Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Strangmway 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 Strangmway or a variant listed above: William and Robert Strangway settled in Maryland in 1750.



  1. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.


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