The House of Names has the following narrative regarding the Shipley name.

Shipley History, Family Crest& Coats of Arms

The Norman Conquest of England in 1066 brought much change to the island nation, including many immigrants with new names. Among these immigrants were the ancestors of the Shipley family, who lived in Derbyshire, at Shipley, from where they derived their name.

Alternatively, the name could have originated "from Shipley (pasture for sheep), the name of several places in England. " 

Early Origins of the Shipley family 

The surname Shipley was first found in Derbyshire where they were granted the lands of Shipley, originally spelled Scipelie, by William the Conqueror for their assistance at the Battle of Hastings in 1066 A.D.

Today Shipley is a township, in the parish of Heanor, union of Basford, hundred of Morleston and Litchurch. Shipley is also a township, in the parish of Eglingham, union of Alnwick, N. division of Coquetdale ward and of Northumberland and a parish, in the union of Horsham, hundred of West Grinstead, rape of Bramber, W. division of Sussex. ^[2]

"The ancient castle of Knap, here, which appears to have been founded in an early period of the Norman era, was visited by King John in 1206 and 1215, and was garrisoned during the Parliamentary War." 

One branch of the family may have originated in Shipley, a parish in West Riding of Yorkshire, three miles from Bradford or at Shepley, a township in the parish of Kirk Burton, West Riding of Yorkshire.

Interestingly, the Yorkshire Shipley occurs as Scipeleia in Domesday Book of 1086. 

"Both places seem to have been originally spelt Scheplay, so both Shepley and Shipley as surnames are now inextricably mixed." 

And it is Yorkshire where we find the first records of the family. The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 list Katerine de Scheplay; Joanna de Scheplay; and Adam de Scheplay as all holding lands there at that time. 

Early History of the Shipley family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Shipley research. Another 143 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 176 and 1769 are included under the topic Early  Shipley History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Shipley Spelling Variations

A multitude of spelling variations characterize Norman surnames. Many variations occurred because Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules. The introduction of Norman French to England also had a pronounced effect, as did the court languages of Latin and French. Therefore, one person was often referred to by several different spellings in a single lifetime. The various spellings include Shipley, Shiplie, Skiplie, Schipley and others.

Early Notables of the Shipley family (pre 1700)

More information is included under the topic Early Shipley Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

For more information please visit <https://www.houseofnames.com/shipley-family-crest>