The Kershaw surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 5,109 people carried this name — #6,630 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 57,800 people counted. That is up 6% from 4,819 in 2000.

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What the name means

The meaning of the Kershaw surname

From Old English; equivalent to kirk (“church”) + shaw (“grove”).

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary (en.wiktionary.org) — entry «Kershaw» (English), by Wiktionary contributors · licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0) · excerpt, lightly adapted.

As an English and Welsh surname

Bardsley classes it as a local name, from where the family lived: ‘of Kirkshaw’.

His entry covers Kershaw and Kershow.

From Charles W. Bardsley, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, with Special American Instances (London: Henry Frowde, 1901), p. 446 · public domain.

Among the farmers of England and Wales, 1880s

Kershaw was found among the farmers of 2 counties.

It was most frequent in Lancashire: 15 in every 10,000 farmers there — about 1 in 667. Guppy counted the farmers listed in each county’s directory and recorded a name only where it reached about 7 in every 10,000; where it does not appear, it was rarer than that, not absent.

Where it concentrates, on the map

Per 10,000 farmers, by county

Lancashire 15
Yorkshire, West Riding 11

H. B. Guppy, «Homes of Family Names in Great Britain» (London, 1890), alphabetical list of English and Welsh names — public domain · farmers in Kelly’s Post Office Directories of the 1880s, per 10,000 farmers in each county.

In print

Kershaw in American newspapers,
1897–1920.

Newspaper page from Iron County Register carrying the name Kershaw
Iron County Register 1897-01-14
Newspaper page from The Birmingham Age-herald carrying the name Kershaw
The Birmingham Age-herald 1920-05-01
Newspaper page from The Birmingham Age-herald carrying the name Kershaw
The Birmingham Age-herald 1915-07-19

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 1,406 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Kershaw in Australian newspapers,
1840s–2000s.

17,192 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Kershaw. The most, 3,532, date from the 1930s. New South Wales has the most articles, but weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, the name stands out most in Western Australia, at 1.4 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

New South Wales 7,288
Victoria 3,973
Western Australia 2,213
Queensland 2,171
South Australia 692
Tasmania 596
ACT (Canberra) 224
Northern Territory 3

Trove, National Library of Australia (trove.nla.gov.au) · articles in its digitised newspapers that name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Kershaw.

Who carried it

People named Kershaw,
with a public archive behind them.

  • James Kershaw
    James Kershaw 1795–1864 · businessperson
  • James Kershaw
    James Kershaw 1795–1864 · businessperson
  • James Kershaw d. 1797 · preacher
  • Anne Kershaw d. 1935
  • Jill Velia Kershaw d. 2002
  • A. C. Kershaw d. 1974

Wikidata (CC0) · portraits via Wikimedia Commons, shown cropped, in the public domain or CC0 · 9 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Kershaw,
in the records of 7 countries.

Soldiers, farmers, migrants and neighbours who carried the name and left a trace in public archives. Everyone shown here died long ago or was born more than a century ago.

United States941 records

941 records of the Kershaw name in the United States
  • Passenger arrivals in the United States, 1820–1912 330
  • New York City birth, marriage and death certificates 190
  • Other U.S. records 421
  1. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Charles R. Kershaw

    Born 1921 in Pennsylvania. Enlisted 1942 at Philadelphia; apprentice machinist. U.S. Army Air Forces veteran of World War II; died 1996, buried at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, Pennsylvania.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Sheldon J. Kershaw

    Born 1919 in New York. Enlisted 1945 at New York City; electrician from Kings County. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1986, buried at Calverton National Cemetery, New York.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Isaac Kershaw

    Arrived at New York in 1885 aboard the City of Berlin from Liverpool and Queenstown, aged 19; laborer. From Bradford, England; bound for New York.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)

Showing 3 of 941 records for Kershaw in the United States.

Counts: U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain) · City of Asheville (public domain, PDDL). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Australia746 records

746 records of the Kershaw name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 389
  • Victoria wills and probate, deaths to 2001 126
  • Other Australian records 231
  1. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Jane Kershaw

    Died 1917 in Wentworth Street, Hobart, Tasmania. Will registered in Tasmania in 1917.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record James Kershaw

    Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1853. Married 1853 in Hobart, Tasmania, aged 33.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  3. An 1829 etching of convicts being rowed out to the prison ship York in Portsmouth Harbour
    Pictured: convicts going on board a prison ship, 1829
    Transportation record Charles Kershaw

    Transported to New South Wales aboard the Prince of Orange, arriving 1821; ticket of leave 1831. Native of Lancashire.

    Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY)

Showing 3 of 746 records for Kershaw in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · ACT Government, Transport Canberra and City Services (CC BY 4.0) · State Library of Western Australia (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain); Prison-ship in Portsmouth Harbour, with the convicts going on board, etching by Edward William Cooke, 1829, Royal Museums Greenwich (public domain).

United Kingdom70 records

70 records of the Kershaw name in the United Kingdom
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 65
  • Welsh wills index cards 3
  • Other British records 2
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record David Kershaw

    Died 1980, aged 23; buried at Logie Cemetery, Stirling, Scotland.

    Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
  2. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Mary Kershaw

    Will proved in 1931; of Rhyl, Flint.

    National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0)
  3. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record J. R. Kershaw

    King's (Liverpool Regiment). Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1917.

    National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)

Showing 3 of 70 records for Kershaw in the United Kingdom.

Counts: National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0) · Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. · MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0).

Canada27 records

27 records of the Kershaw name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 6
  • Mountain View Cemetery, Vancouver 5
  • Other Canadian records 16
  1. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Thos Kershaw

    Came to Ontario in 1873 aboard the Sar, landing at Quebec, bound for London, Ontario; English.

    Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario.
  2. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record David Kershaw

    Died 1891 in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

    Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia.
  3. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Hannah Kershaw

    Died 1937; buried at Mountain View Cemetery, Vancouver, British Columbia.

    City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver.

Showing 3 of 27 records for Kershaw in Canada.

Counts: Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. · City of Niagara Falls. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Niagara Falls. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0); Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0).

New Zealand16 records

16 records of the Kershaw name in New Zealand
  • Christchurch City cemetery records 15
  • Marlborough District cemetery records 1
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Harry Kershaw

    Died 1912, aged 44; buried at Sydenham Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record John Kershaw

    Died 1918, aged 65; buried at Seddon Cemetery, Marlborough.

    Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Margaret Holden Kershaw

    Died 1901, aged 70; buried at Addington Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 16 records for Kershaw in New Zealand.

Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0) · Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

Netherlands6 records

6 records of the Kershaw name in the Netherlands
  • Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths) 5
  • Dutch population registers 1
  1. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Alfred Kershaw

    Born 1922 in Groningen. Married in 1945 in Haren.

    Open Archives, Groninger Archieven (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the 1910 United States census, Milwaukee
    Example: U.S. census, 1910
    Population register Agnes Vera Kershaw

    In the population register of Penwortham, England; born 1901 in Penwortham, England.

    Open Archives, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Alfred Kershaw

    Married in 1918 in Groningen; engine driver.

    Open Archives, Groninger Archieven (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 6 records for Kershaw in the Netherlands.

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain); U.S. census of 1910, Milwaukee (public domain).

France3 records

3 records of the Kershaw name in France France's national death register, 1970–2001
  1. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Martin Hugh Kershaw

    Born 1950 in Clermont-l'Hérault; died 2000 in Clermont-l'Hérault (Hérault).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  2. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Coraline Kershaw

    Born 1908 in Great Britain; died 1996 in Lascazères (Hautes-Pyrénées).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Showing 2 of 3 records for Kershaw in France.

Counts: Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Death register of Nice, 1930, Archives départementales des Alpes-Maritimes (public domain).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Kershaw.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Kershaw is.
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