Shaw History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland
Scotland

Etymology of Shaw

What does the name Shaw mean?

The clans of the Pictish people in ancient Scotland were the ancestors of the first people to use the name Shaw. It was a name for a person who shared some of the qualities attributed to a wolf. Shaw is a nickname surname, which belongs to the category of hereditary surnames. Nicknames form a broad and miscellaneous class of surnames, and can refer directly or indirectly to one's personality, physical attributes, mannerisms, or even their habits of dress. The surname Shaw is derived from the Gaelic first name Sithech, which means wolf.

Early Origins of the Shaw family

The surname Shaw was first found in Perthshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Pheairt) former county in the present day Council Area of Perth and Kinross, located in central Scotland, where the family appears to have been firmly entrenched in the Eastern coastal regions well before 1000 AD.

While some claim that the Clan originally descended from a MacDuff, one of the ancient Earls of Fife, the first official mention in documents shows them to be present at the General Council held by King Malcolm at Forfar in 1061.

However, this ancient leadership was challenged by many other Clans Commyns (Cummings) who had leased the Shaw lands of Rothiemurchus.

Early History of the Shaw family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Shaw research. Another 369 words (26 lines of text) covering the years 1178, 1226, 1405, 1411, 1527, 1550, 1602, 1608, 1625, 1672, 1692, 1751, 1774, 1776, 1799, 1804, 1826, 1832, 1849, 1876 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Shaw History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Shaw Spelling Variations

In the Middle ages, spelling and translation were not yet regulated by any general rules. spelling variations in names were common even among members of one family unit. Shaw has appeared Shaw, Shawe, Mac Ghille-Sheathanaich (Gaelic) and others.

Early Notables of the Shaw family

Notable amongst the Clan at this time was

Robert Shaw (died 1527), Scottish cluniac monk and prelate
John Shawe or Shaw (1608-1672), an English puritan minister from Yorkshire
John Shaw Sr. (1776-1832), English architect
Thomas Shaw (1692-1751), Irish divine and traveller born in Kendal, Westmorland
Sir Robert Shaw, 1st Baronet (1774-1849), UK Member of Parliament representing Dublin City 1804-1826

Shaw World Ranking

In the United States, the name Shaw is the 144^th most popular surname with an estimated 161,655 people with that name. 1 However, in Canada, the name Shaw is ranked the 132^nd most popular surname with an estimated 24,239 people with that name. 2 And in Australia, the name Shaw is the 91^st popular surname with an estimated 26,811 people with that name. 3 New Zealand ranks Shaw as 65^th with 4,945 people. 4 The United Kingdom ranks Shaw as 56^th with 74,924 people. 5

Migration of the Shaw family to Ireland

Some of the Shaw family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 123 words (9 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Shaw migration to the United States +

Faced by this persecution and the generally unstable political climate of those days, many Scots chose to leave their homeland for Ireland, Australia, and North America in search of greater opportunity and freedom. The colonies across the Atlantic were the most popular choice, but a passage there was neither cheap nor easily suffered. Passengers arrived sick and poor, but those who made it intact often found land and more tolerant societies in which to live. These brave settlers formed the backbone of the burgeoning nations of Canada and the United States. It is only this century that the ancestors of these families have begun to recover their collective identity through the patriotic highland games and Clan societies that have sprung up throughout North America. Research into early immigration and passenger lists revealed many immigrants bearing the name Shaw:

Shaw Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Nich Shaw, who arrived in Virginia in 1618 6
Annis Shaw, who landed in Virginia in 1623 aboard the ship "Southampton" 6
Anne Shaw, who settled in Virginia in 1635 along with Richard and William
Roger Shaw, who landed in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1636 6
Abraham Shaw, who landed in Dedham, Massachusetts in 1637 6
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Shaw Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Eliza Shaw, who arrived in Virginia in 1701-1702 6
Ewen Shaw, who arrived in South Carolina in 1716 6
Angus Shaw, who landed in Virginia in 1716 6
Donald Shaw, who settled in Virginia in 1716
Ewen Shaw, who settled in South Carolina in 1716 along with John
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Shaw Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Robert Shaw, who arrived in America in 1801 6
Joseph Shaw, who arrived in America in 1805 6
James Shaw, who arrived in America in 1805 6
Nathaniel Shaw, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1806 6
Elijah Shaw, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1808 6
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Shaw migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Shaw Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

John Shaw, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1750
Thomas Shaw, who settled in Nova Scotia in 1750
Sarah Shaw, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1750
Peter Shaw, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1760
John Shaw, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1760
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Shaw Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Thomas Shaw, aged 21, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Favourite" in 1815
James Shaw, who landed in Canada in 1828
Samuel Shaw, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Mary" in 1838
Thomas Shaw, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1843
Mary Shaw, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1844
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Shaw migration to Australia +

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

Shaw Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Robert Shaw, English convict who was convicted in Lincoln, Lincolnshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Atlas" on 16th January 1816, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 7
Mr. John Shaw, English sawyer who was convicted in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Elizabeth" in May 1816, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1841 8
Mr. William Shaw, British Convict who was convicted in Lancaster, Lancashire, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Batavia" in October 1817, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 9
Mr. James Shaw, English convict who was convicted in Lancaster, Lancashire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Dromedary" on 11th September 1819, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 10
William Shaw, English convict from Middlesex, who was transported aboard the "Asia" on September 3rd, 1820, settling in New South Wales, Australia 11
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Shaw 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:

Shaw Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Elihu Shaw, who landed in Kaipara, New Zealand in 1836 aboard the ship Coromandel
John Shaw, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840
William Shaw, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1841 aboard the ship Amelia Thompson 12
Ebenezer Shaw, who landed in New Plymouth, New Zealand in 1841 aboard the ship Amelia Thompson
James Shaw, who landed in New Plymouth, New Zealand in 1841 aboard the ship Amelia Thompson
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Shaw (post 1700) +

George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950), Irish Nobel Prize-winning and Academy Award-winning playwright, essayist and critic, eponym of the Shaw Festival, Niagara on the Lake, Canada
William "Billy" Lewis Shaw (1938-2024), American professional football player
James E. "Jim" Shaw (1946-2024), American politician, Mayor of Rapid City, South Dakota, from 1997 to 1999, from 1999 to 2001 and again from 2003 to 2005 and from 2005 to 2007
Sarah-Ann Shaw (1933-2024), American journalist and television reporter
Marlena Shaw (1942-2024), born as Marlina Burgess, was an American jazz, blues, and soul singer
Bernard Shaw (1940-2022), American journalist and lead news anchor for CNN from 1980 until his retirement in March 2001, winner of the Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Journalism (1994), the Paul White Award, Radio Television Digital News Association (1996), and inducted as a Laureate of The Lincoln Academy of Illinois and awarded the Order of Lincoln
Barbara E. Shaw (1942-2021), American politician who served in the New Hampshire House of Representatives for 22 years
Charles Alexander Shaw (1944-2020), American jurist, Senior Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri (2000-2020)
Rick Shaw (1938-2017), born James Harold Hummell III, an American disc jockey, radio and television personality
Lee Shaw (1926-2015), nicknamed the "First Lady of Jazz", an American jazz pianist and composer
... (Another 43 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Shaw family +

Empress of Ireland

Mr. Henry Edward Shaw, British Baker from United Kingdom who worked aboard the Empress of Ireland (1914) and survived the sinking 13

Halifax Explosion

Ms. Sarah Jane Shaw, Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 14
Mrs. Mary Shaw (1847-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 14
Mrs. Margaret Shaw (1847-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 14
Master Charles William Shaw (1912-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 14
Miss Nellie May Shaw (1917-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 14
... (Another 9 entries are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

HMS Prince of Wales

Mr. William Shaw, British Petty Office Stoker, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking 15
Mr. Shaw, British Boy 1st Class, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and died in the sinking 15
Mr. Shaw, British Stoker 1st Class, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking, was listed as missing in action 1942 15

HMS Repulse

Mr. Douglas Shaw, British Leading Seaman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking 16
Mr. Robert Stitt Shaw (b. 1914), English Able Bodied Seaman from Allerton, Lancashire, England, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and died in the sinking 16

HMS Royal Oak

Stephen Shaw (1918-1939), British Leading Seaman with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he died in the sinking 17

Ibrox disaster

William Duncan Shaw (1941-1971), Scottish football supporter, from Glasgow who was at the Ibrox disaster on 2nd January 1971 when a human crush among the crowd killed 66 and injured 200 people he died of his injuries 18

RMS Lusitania

Miss Emily Shaw, Canadian 2nd Class passenger from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking 19

SS Atlantic

Wm. Shaw, Irish traveler aboard the ship "SS Atlantic" when it struck rocks off Nova Scotia in 1873, survived the sinking

USS Arizona

Mr. Clyde Donald Shaw, American Seaman First Class from Ohio, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 20
Mr. Robert K. Shaw, American Musician Second Class from Texas, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 20

USS Indianapolis

Calvin Patrick Shaw, American crew member on board the ship "USS Indianapolis" when she was on a top secret trip for the first nuclear weapon, she was sunk by Japanese Navy on 30th July 1945, he was one of the many who were killed in the sinking due to exposure, dehydration, saltwater poisoning and shark attacks 21

The Shaw 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: I mean well

Citations +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
"UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
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)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 14th July 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/atlas
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 1st March 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/elizabeth
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 30th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/batavia
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th July 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/dromedary
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Asia 1 voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1820 with 192 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/asia/1820
Shadow Time Settlers (Retrieved 5th November 2010), retrieved from http://shadowsoftime.co.nz/settlers.html
Commemoration Empress of Ireland 2014. (Retrieved 2014, June 17) . Retrieved from http://www.empress2014.ca/seclangen/listepsc1.html
Halifax Explosion Book of Remembrance | Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. (Retrieved 2014, June 23) . Retrieved from https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/halifax-explosion/halifax-explosion-book-remembrance
HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html
HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.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
Bradford City Football Club In memory (retrieved 22nd March 2021). Retrieved from https://www.bradfordcityafc.com/club/in-memoriam/
Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 6) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/
Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html
Final Crew List, retrieved 2021, October 30th Retrieved from https://www.ussindianapolis.com/final-crew