The name Strowbridge reached English shores for the first time with the ancestors of the Strowbridge family as they migrated following the
Norman Conquest of 1066. The Strowbridge family lived in
Devon, at Trowbridge. Further research showed the name was derived from the Old English word for a
wooden bridge.Early Origins of the Strowbridge family
The surname Strowbridge was first found in
Devon where conjecturally they are believed to be descended from two Norman knights Richard and Reginald who held the lands of Modbury from the Count of Mortaine as shown in the
Domesday Book which was surveyed in 1086 A.D. The land was shown to have 30 goats.
[1]CITATION[CLOSE]
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8) Trowbridge is also a market-town and parish, in the union and hundred of Melksham, Westbury and N. divisions, and Trowbridge and Bradford subdivisions, of Wiltshire. "It was anciently a royal manor, forming part of the duchy of Lancaster, having been granted by the crown to John of Gaunt. The estate afterwards reverted to the crown, and was given by Henry VIII., in the 28th year of his reign, to Sir Edward Seymour, Knt., Viscount Beauchamp." [2]CITATION[CLOSE]
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print. So, while one would presume that this market-town was the place of origin of the surname, it was indeed not.
Early History of the Strowbridge family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Strowbridge research.
Another 42 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Strowbridge History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Strowbridge Spelling Variations
Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago,
spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, Norman French and other languages became incorporated into English throughout the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Strowbridge include Trowbridge, Troubridge, Trobridge and others.
Early Notables of the Strowbridge family (pre 1700)
More information is included under the topic Early Strowbridge Notables in all our
PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Strowbridge family to the New World and Oceana
Some of the first settlers of this family name were:
Strowbridge Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
- Mr. Crispus Strowbridge U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1784 [3]CITATION[CLOSE]
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
Contemporary Notables of the name Strowbridge (post 1700)
- Steve Strowbridge, American actor, known for Pretty in Red (2008)
- Gail Strowbridge, Guernsey six-time gold medalist swimmer (2003-2005)