The Sylwyne surname finds its earliest origins with the ancient
Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. Their name is derived from the
personal name Saelwig which is an Old English word meaning
prosperity war. The personal name Saelwig was an ancient font name that was brought to
England by the
Normans. After the
Norman Conquest, the Old English naming system gradually dissolved. Old English names became less common and were replaced by popular continental European names. The earliest surnames in
England were found shortly after the
Norman Conquest and are of Norman French rather than native English origins.
Early Origins of the Sylwyne family
The surname Sylwyne was first found in
Staffordshire where "about the reign of Henry III, William Salwey was Lord of Leacroft, a hamlet in the parish of Cannock in Staffordshire; hence the family removed to Stanford in Worcestershire; of which John Salwey was owner in the third of Henry IV."
[1]CITATION[CLOSE]
Shirley, Evelyn Philip, The Noble and Gentle Men of England; The Arms and Descents. Westminster: John Bower Nichols and Sons, 1866, Print.
Early History of the Sylwyne family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Sylwyne research.
Another 175 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1216, 1575, 1652, 1640, 1615, 1685, 1655, 1702, 1675 and 1702 are included under the topic Early Sylwyne History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Sylwyne Spelling Variations
It is only in the last few
hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early
Anglo-Saxon surnames like Sylwyne are characterized by many
spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Sylwyne include: Salwey, Sewyn, Selwyn, Selwin, Sallowaye and others.
Early Notables of the Sylwyne family (pre 1700)
Notables of this surname at this time include: Geoffrey Salewey of Stafford; Arthur Salwey of Stanford Court at Stanford-on-Teme, Worcestershire; his son, Humphrey Salwey (1575-1652), an English politician, Member of Parliament for...
Another 32 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Sylwyne Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Sylwyne family to the New World and Oceana
Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Sylwyne or a variant listed above: William and Thomas Salwey settled in Philadelphia in 1683.
The Sylwyne Motto
The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.
Motto: Fiat voluntas dei
Motto Translation: The will of God be done.