Shaw Coat of Arms & Family Crest
Where the Shaw name began, what it means, and where it was first recorded.
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Origin of the Shaw name
Shaw is a topographic name for someone who lived by a small wood or thicket, from Old English sceaga, "copse". It is especially common in Lancashire, Yorkshire and Cheshire, where several places are called Shaw. In the Scottish Highlands the name has a separate history: Clan Shaw, centred on Rothiemurchus, was part of the Clan Chattan confederation.
Our historical archives hold much more on the Shaw name: dates, names and records of early bearers.
This overview covers the Shaw name in England. We also hold records of the name in other countries, such as Scotland, the United States and Australia; your full pack is researched for your family's country of origin.
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Your full Shaw pack adds the researched history, early records and migration. Order your pack and our heraldry team researches and paints the Shaw coat of arms for you.
Shaw name FAQ
What does the Shaw name mean?
Small wood, thicket. Common variants include Shawe, Schaw.
Where does the Shaw surname come from?
It originates in England, and is also found in Scotland, the United States and Australia.
Is there a Shaw coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals, not whole surnames, so there is no single Shaw crest. Herald Lab paints a personalized Shaw coat of arms based on historic heraldry.
Researched by Herald Lab Research Studio, since 1993. Sources: Reaney & Wilson, Dictionary of English Surnames; George F. Black, The Surnames of Scotland (New York Public Library, 1946); Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford).