Surname Adshead - Meaning and Origin
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Adshead: What does the surname Adshead mean?
The last name Adshead is of Anglo-Saxon origin, and is believed to be derived from the old Germanic personal name "Adelheid". This name was composed of two elements, adal, meaning 'noble', and heid, which meant 'state or condition'. The surname Adshead is thought to have first appeared in England in the Middle Ages, around the 1300s.
The surname is mainly found in the northern part of England, and is particularly linked to Lancashire and Cheshire, but can also be found in Yorkshire and other parts of the country. The Adshead family were prominent in county affairs as landowners, and they also held many government positions.
The Adshead name is also found in other countries, including Australia and New Zealand, where some members of the family emigrated in the 19th century. A place-name in Salford, Lancashire is thought to derive from the name Adelheid, as Adeshead or Abdishide, suggesting that there was a pre-medieval settlement named after someone with this name.
Today, the surname Adshead is still found in England, as well as elsewhere, and is associated with many notable people. The name is often linked to English literature, art and culture and in recent years, to science and technology.
Order DNA origin analysisAdshead: Where does the name Adshead come from?
The last name Adshead is most commonly found in the United Kingdom. The large majority of individuals with this surname who still live in the UK are located in the counties of Lancashire and Cheshire in Northwest England. However, due to the children and grandchildren of British expatriates who moved abroad, this surname is now scattered across many countries throughout the world, especially in the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, South Africa, and Latin America.
In the U.K., the Adshead name dates back to the Norman Conquest of England in the 11th century. It is believed to be a locational name derived from a place believed to be located near Padiham, a small market town in the county of Lancashire. The name of this place is derived from the Old English term "ad", meaning "at", and "sc[e]adu" meaning "the shade or shadow".
The Adshead family began to arrive in the greater United States in the early 18th century. Like many British families who had moved to the country, the Adsheads filled roles in a number of professions including farming, teaching, engineering, and military service. Later on, the Adshead family expanded into multiple states including Texas, California, and Pennsylvania, as well as various provinces in Canada.
Today, it is estimated that there are over 8,000 Adshead family members still living in the United Kingdom and more than 10,000 worldwide. The Adshead name is a proudly preserved example of the vast history and culture available in the British Isles.
Variations of the surname Adshead
The surname Adshead is an English patronymic surname derived from the given name Adam. It is an ornamental surname meaning head of Adam, derived from the Old English term Adameheafod. Variants of this surname include Adeshead, Atteishod, Atshed and Atshede.
The surname Adshead also has a few spelling variants including Adshead, Adshed, Adsheed, Adshade, Adhade, Attshed, Attshead and Atchade. It may also be spelled Attshaed and Attishad.
There are many other surnames which are from the same origin as Adshead. These include Addishead, Adnett, Adsitt, Adsit, Adsby, Adamson, Adkin, Adkinson, Addison, Aitkinson, Atkin, Atkinson, Atcheson, Atchesson, Atchison, Atson, Atson and Addeshead.
The common variations of Adshead in modern usage may be attributed to the normalization of spelling that has occurred over time, as well as the tendency to create analogous forms, such as Adshed instead of Adshead. As Adshead is an obsolete form of Adamson, many of the above mentioned variants were also found in records as Adamson as well as Adshead.
Most Adshead's found today appear to be derived from a single line of ancestral descent from one of the earlier forms of the surname, such as Adelman, Adellman, or Adelmann. This is apparent due to the occurrence of more than one variation of the surname in certain regions, particularly in the United Kingdom.
Famous people with the name Adshead
- Richard Adshead: a British songwriter, composer, conductor, and musical arranger.
- John Adshead: an English historian and social scientist.
- Peter Adshead: a British journalist and publisher.
- Zoë Adshead: a British actress, best known for her role as the snow maiden Anya in the Russian myth-based British drama series Wolfblood.
- Mark Adshead: a former English professional footballer.
- Thomas Adshead O.P.:a Dominican friar, Anglican bishop and the first post-Reformation Bishop of Manchester.
- Roger Adshead: a British actor who has appeared in television, films, and theatre productions.
- Michael Adshead: an English musician, songwriter, and producer.
- Ruth Adshead: a British artist who specialises in oil painting and multi-media art.
- Kay Adshead: a British playwright, actor, director, educator, and criminologist.
- Helen Adshead: a British magazine and television journalist, best known as the presenter of BBC's Countryfile.
- Jackie Adshead: a British television presenter best known for her work on TV-am.
- Jonathan Adshead: an English composer, pianist, and producer.
- Stephen Adshead: a British entrepreneur and philanthropist.
- Andrew Adshead: an English sculptor and painter.