Shephton History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Etymology of Shephton

What does the name Shephton mean?

The name Shephton reached English shores for the first time with the ancestors of the Shephton family as they migrated following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Shephton family lived in Oxfordshire. The name Shipton derives from the Old English words scip, meaning sheep, and tun, meaning enclosure or settlement, and indicates that the original bearer of the name lived near such a place.

Early Origins of the Shephton family

The surname Shephton was first found in Oxfordshire where they held a family seat from ancient times, and were Lords of the manor of Shipton-on-Cherwell, and Shipton-under Wychwood in that shire. Conjecturally the Shiptons are descended from Alfsi of Faringdon who held the King's land, or from Ilbert who held his lands from the Bishop of Bayeux, as these nobles were shown as holders in the Domesday Book in 1086, a census initiated by Duke William of Normandy after the Battle of Hastings in 1066 A.D.

Early History of the Shephton family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Shephton research. Another 90 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1488, 1561, 1630, 1659, 1666, 1680 and 1748 are included under the topic Early Shephton History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Shephton 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 Shephton include Shiptone, Shipton, Shippton, Shipptone and others.

Early Notables of the Shephton family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Ursula Southeil (c. 1488-1561) (also variously spelt as Ursula Southill, Ursula Soothtell or Ursula Sontheil), better known as Mother Shipton, an English soothsayer and prophetess who foresaw the Great Fire of 1666 and lived in what would later be called Mother...
Another 48 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Shephton Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Shephton family

In England at this time, the uncertainty of the political and religious environment of the time caused many families to board ships for distant British colonies in the hopes of finding land and opportunity, and escaping persecution. The voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, though, and many arrived in North America sick, starved, and destitute. Those who did make it, however, were greeted with greater opportunities and freedoms that they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make important contributions to the young nations in which they settled. Early immigration records have shown some of the first Shephtons to arrive on North American shores: William Shipton who settled with his wife and child and servants in Barbados in 1680; Thomas Shipton settled in Maryland in 1774; James Shipton settled in Texas in 1896..