Show ContentsStrawbridge History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Strawbridge surname is a habitational name, taken on from a place so called in Hatherleigh, Devon.

Early Origins of the Strawbridge family

The surname Strawbridge was first found in Devon where there is an early record of John Strowbridge in 1559. A John Strobridge was recorded in the Heraldic Visitations of Devon in 1620. He was said to son of Arthur Strobridge of Modbury, grandson of John Strobridge of Bigbury, and great-grandson of John Strobridge of Colleton.

Early History of the Strawbridge family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Strawbridge research. The years 1661, 1759, 1766 and 1781 are included under the topic Early Strawbridge History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Strawbridge Spelling Variations

A multitude of spelling variations characterize Norman surnames. Many variations occurred because Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules. The introduction of Norman French to England also had a pronounced effect, as did the court languages of Latin and French. Therefore, one person was often referred to by several different spellings in a single lifetime. The various spellings include Strawbridge, Strowbridge, Strobridge and others.

Early Notables of the Strawbridge family

Notables of the family at this time include

  • Strawbridge of Devon

Strawbridge Ranking

In the United States, the name Strawbridge is the 15,329th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1

Migration of the Strawbridge family to Ireland

Some of the Strawbridge family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 35 words (2 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Strawbridge migration to the United States +

Many English families left England, to avoid the chaos of their homeland and migrated to the many British colonies abroad. Although the conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and some travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute, once in the colonies, many of the families prospered and made valuable contributions to the cultures of what would become the United States and Canada. Research into the origins of individual families in North America has revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Strawbridge or a variant listed above:

Strawbridge Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Thomas Strawbridge, who landed in New England in 1638 2
Strawbridge Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Anne Strawbridge, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1745 2
Strawbridge Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • William Strawbridge, who arrived in America in 1807 2
  • John Strawbridge, who arrived in New York, NY in 1816 2
  • J Strawbridge, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1850 2

Strawbridge migration to Australia +

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

Strawbridge Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • John William Strawbridge, aged 21, a mason, who arrived in South Australia in 1854 aboard the ship "Navarino" 3

Strawbridge 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:

Strawbridge Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Henry A. Strawbridge, aged 22, a farm labourer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Dallam Tower" in 1875
  • Emma Strawbridge, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Dallam Tower" in 1875
  • John Strawbridge, aged 48, a farm labourer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Dallam Tower" in 1875
  • Mary Strawbridge, aged 49, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Dallam Tower" in 1875
  • Eli T. Strawbridge, aged 10, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Dallam Tower" in 1875
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Strawbridge (post 1700) +

  • George W. Strawbridge Jr. (b. 1937), American educator, historian, investor, sportsman and philanthropist, owner of the NHL hockey team the Buffalo Sabres (1970-1998); his mother was the daughter of Dr. John Thompson Dorrance, owner of the Campbell Soup Company
  • Justus Clayton Strawbridge (1838-1911), American co-founder of Strawbridge's, formerly Strawbridge & Clothier, a department store in the northeastern United States in 1868
  • Turner Strawbridge, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Pennsylvania, 1888 4
  • S. D. Strawbridge, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Delaware, 1868 4
  • Nancy Strawbridge, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from California, 1956 4
  • James Dale Strawbridge (1824-1890), American Republican politician, U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania 13th District, 1873-75 4
  • Allen J. Strawbridge, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Tennessee, 1940 4
  • Robert Strawbridge (d. 1781), Irish Methodist preacher born in Drumsna, County Leitrim, Ireland
  • Lieutenant-Colonel Richard Francis "Dick" Strawbridge MBE (b. 1959), British (Northern Irish raised) engineer, television presenter and environmentalist


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. 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)
  3. South Australian Register Monday 14th August 1854. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Navarino 1854. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/navarino1854.shtml
  4. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, December 10) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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