| ![Show Contents]() Shorts History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
Etymology of ShortsWhat does the name Shorts mean? Shorts is a name of Anglo-Saxon origin. It was a name given to a person who because of their physical characteristics was named short. In this case the surname Shorts can be traced back to the Old English word sceort which means short. The original bearer would have been known as the short one, because of his low stature. As height is one of the most easily distinguished features of a person, names derived from this aspect of a person's physique are by no means rare. Early Origins of the Shorts familyThe surname Shorts was first found in Dorset where one of the first records of the name was Ordic Scort who was listed there in the Pipe Rolls of 1176. Other early records include Richard le Sorte who was listed in the Assize Rolls of 1269 in Somerset and William Short who was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex of 1327. 1 The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 list William Short in Suffolk. 2 Early History of the Shorts familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Shorts research. Another 89 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1600, 1603, 1635, 1668, 1675, 1685, 1690, 1772 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Shorts History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Shorts Spelling VariationsBefore the last few hundred years, the English language had no fast system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations are commonly found in early Anglo-Saxon surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Shorts were recorded, including Short, Shorte, Shortt, Schorte and others. Early Notables of the Shorts familyDistinguished members of the family include Peter Short (died 1603), a London printer who printed several first editions and early texts of Shakespeare's works.Thomas Short (1635-1685), was an English physician, son of the Rev. William Short, born at Easton, Suffolk. He settled in London and was...
Another 45 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Shorts Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Shorts RankingIn the United States, the name Shorts is the 8,612nd most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 3 Migration of the Shorts family to IrelandSome of the Shorts family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 50 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
| Shorts migration to the United States | + |
To escape oppression and starvation at that time, many English families left for the "open frontiers" of the New World with all its perceived opportunities. In droves people migrated to the many British colonies, those in North America in particular, paying high rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Although many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, those who did see the shores of North America perceived great opportunities before them. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Research into various historical records revealed some of first members of the Shorts family emigrate to North America:
Shorts Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- W Shorts, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1850 4
- Augustus Shorts, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1851 4
Shorts Settlers in United States in the 20th Century- Jacob Shorts, who landed in Wisconsin in 1927 4
| Shorts migration to Canada | + |
Some of the first settlers of this family name were: Shorts Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century- Rev. Augustus Shorts U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1784 5
| Shorts migration to Australia | + |
Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include: Shorts Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century- Mr. William Shorts, (b. 1808), aged 33, Cornish labourer travelling aboard the ship "Marquis of Hastings" arriving in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia on 4th February 1841 6
- Mrs. Elizabeth Shorts, (b. 1807), aged 34, Cornish farm servant travelling aboard the ship "Marquis of Hastings" arriving in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia on 4th February 1841 6
- Mr. William Shorts, (b. 1839), aged 2, Cornish settler travelling aboard the ship "Marquis of Hastings" arriving in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia on 4th February 1841 6
- Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
- Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
- "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
- 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)
- 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
- Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, May 30). Ships' Passenger Lists of Arrivals in New South Wales on (1828 - 1842, 1848 - 1849) [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_nsw_1838_on.pdf
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