Kershaw is an English-language surname deriving from a topographical identifier in the northern dialect of

Middle English Middle English (abbreviated to ME) is a form of the English language that was spoken after the Norman Conquest of 1066, until the late 15th century. The English language underwent distinct variations and developments following the Old English pe ...

: ''kirk'' meaning 'church' and ''shaw'' meaning 'grove'. Places named Kirkshaw include Kirkshaw in the parish of

Rochdale Rochdale ( ) is a town in Greater Manchester, England, and the administrative centre of the Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale. In the United Kingdom 2021 Census, 2021 Census, the town had a population of 111,261, compared to 223,773 for the wid ...

Greater Manchester Greater Manchester is a ceremonial county in North West England. It borders Lancashire to the north, Derbyshire and West Yorkshire to the east, Cheshire to the south, and Merseyside to the west. Its largest settlement is the city of Manchester. ...

, and two hamlets in

West Yorkshire West Yorkshire is a Metropolitan counties of England, metropolitan and Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England. It borders North Yorkshire to the north and east, South Yorkshire and De ...

. The Kershaw (anciently spelled ''Kyrkeshagh'') family resided at Town House, Rochdale from the Middle Ages until the early modern period. Notable people with the name include: * Abbey Lee Kershaw (born 1987), Australian fashion model *

Alex Kershaw Alex Kershaw (born 1966) is an English journalist, public speaker and the author of several best-selling books, including ''The Liberator'', ''The First Wave'', ''The Bedford Boys'' and '' The Longest Winter''. Early life Born in York, England ...

(born 1966), American historian *

Andy Kershaw Andrew J. G. Kershaw (born 9 November 1959) is an English broadcaster and disc jockey, predominantly on radio, and known for his interest in world music. Kershaw's shows feature a mix of country, blues, reggae, folk music, African music, spoken ...

(born 1959), British radio DJ * Anthony Kershaw (1915–2008), British Conservative Party Member of Parliament 1955 to 1987 * , Australian palynologist who did key work on dating

Gunditjmara The Gunditjmara or Gunditjamara, also known as Dhauwurd Wurrung, are an Aboriginal people of southwestern Victoria in Australia. They are the Traditional Owners of the areas now encompassing Warrnambool, Port Fairy, Woolsthorpe and Portland. ...

aquaculture * Betty Kershaw (born 1943), British professor of nursing * Billy Kershaw, rugby league footballer who played in the 2000s * Bob Kershaw (died 1998), South African fighter pilot in World War II * Cecil Kershaw (1895–1972), British fencer and rugby union footballer during the 1920s *

Clayton Kershaw Clayton Edward Kershaw (born March 19, 1988) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball (MLB). A left-handed starting pitcher, Kershaw has spent his entire MLB career with the Dodgers s ...

(born 1988), American baseball player *

Devon Kershaw Devon Kershaw (born December 20, 1982) is a Canadians, Canadian retired cross-country skiing (sport), cross-country skier who competed from 2005 to 2018. Growing up in Greater Sudbury, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada, he split his time between several s ...

(born 1982), Canadian cross-country skier *

Doug Kershaw Douglas James Kershaw (born January 24, 1936) is an American fiddle player, singer, and songwriter from Louisiana. Active since 1948, he began his career as part of the duo Rusty and Doug, along with his brother, Rusty Kershaw. He had an exte ...

(born 1936), American fiddle player * Elinor Kershaw (1884–1971), American actress *

Fraser Kershaw Fraser Hart Kershaw Jr. is a humanitarian, filmmaker and soccer manager, known primarily for his work raising awareness about global water issues. He has been involved in producing and starring in documentaries that focus on water access and ...

, activist and actor * Harriette Kershaw Leiding (1874–1948), American writer, clubwoman * Harry Kershaw, rugby league footballer who played in the 1890s and 1900s * Harry Clement Kershaw (1906–1985), British trade unionist * Herbert Kershaw, English rugby union and rugby league footballer who played in the 1900s and 1910s * H. V. Kershaw (1918–1992), British dramatist *

Ian Kershaw Sir Ian Kershaw (born 29 April 1943) is an English historian whose work has chiefly focused on the social history of 20th-century Germany. He is regarded by many as one of the world's foremost experts on Adolf Hitler and Nazi Germany, and is ...

(born 1943), British historian * J.C. Kershaw (1871–1959), British entomologist *

Jack Kershaw John Karl Kershaw (October 12, 1913 – September 7, 2010) was an American attorney best known for challenging the official account of the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. in 1968, claiming that his client James Earl Ray was an un ...

(1913–2010), American attorney *

John Kershaw (disambiguation) John or Jack Kershaw may refer to: * Jack Kershaw (1913–2010), U.S. attorney * Jack Kershaw (footballer) (active 1919–1928), English-born player moved to America * John Kershaw (American politician) (1765–1829), U.S. Representative from So ...

, several people *

Joseph B. Kershaw Joseph Brevard Kershaw (January 5, 1822 – April 13, 1894) was an American planter and slaveholder from South Carolina. He was also a lawyer, judge, and a Confederate general in the American Civil War. Early life Kershaw was born on January 5 ...

(1822–1894), Confederate general *

Joseph Franklin Kershaw Joseph Franklin Kershaw (2 May 1884 – 14 October 1917) was an English artist, who studied at the Royal College of Art and painted in watercolours and oils. His career was cut short by his death in action in World War 1. Biography Life J ...

(1884–1917), English artist *

Kenneth A. Kershaw Kenneth A. Kershaw (1930–2019) was a botanist and lichenologist, especially studying lichen ecophysiology. He started his career at Imperial College, University of London and was then appointed to the chair in plant ecology at McMaster Univers ...

(1930–2019), British-Canadian botanist and lichenologist * Kim Kershaw (born 1959), Australian rules footballer, father of Abbey Lee Kershaw * L. R. Kershaw (1880–1969), pioneer Oklahoma settler, developer, banker and cattleman *

Les Kershaw Les Kershaw is the former chief scout and Academy Director for Manchester United. Kershaw studied at Manchester Metropolitan University before being recruited by United manager Alex Ferguson. He had previously acted as a part-time scout for Arsen ...

, chief scout and academy director for Manchester United *

Liz Kershaw Elizabeth Marguerita Mary Kershaw (born 30 July 1958) is an English radio broadcaster. She is one of the longest serving female national radio DJs in the UK, celebrating 30 years on national BBC Radio in 2017. Career After graduating from the ...

(born 1958), UK music broadcaster *

Mary Kershaw Mary Kershaw is an American museum curator and director. Biography Kershaw studied at the University of Pennsylvania and University College London before being appointed as an assistant curator at Harrogate's museums. She was the curator at the ...

, US museum director * May Kershaw, UK musician *

Nellie Kershaw Nellie Kershaw (c. 1891 – 14 March 1924) was an English textile worker from Rochdale, Lancashire. Her death due to pulmonary asbestosis was the first such case to be described in medical literature, and the first published account of disease a ...

(1891–1924), UK textile worker and the first asbestos victim *

Nik Kershaw Nicholas David Kershaw (born 1 March 1958) is an English singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. He came to prominence in 1984 as a solo artist. He released eight singles that entered the top 40 of the UK Singles Chart during the decade, i ...

(born 1958), UK singer-songwriter *

Noreen Kershaw Noreen Kershaw (born 16 October 1950) is an English television actress and director. She trained at the Manchester Polytechnic School of Theatre and Liverpool's Everyman Theatre, originated the title role of the play '' Shirley Valentine'', l ...

(born 1950), UK actor * (1926–2006), American singer and musician, cousin to Doug and Sammy Kershaw * Peter Kershaw, British tennis player and chairman at Joseph Holt's Brewery * Richard Kershaw (1934–2014), UK television reporter *

Sammy Kershaw Samuel Paul Cashat (born February 24, 1958), known professionally as Sammy Kershaw, is an American country music singer. He has released 16 studio albums, with three RIAA platinum certifications and two gold certifications among them. More than 2 ...

(born 1958), singer and songwriter, a relative of the Cajun fiddler, Doug Kershaw * Thomas Kershaw (disambiguation), several people * Willette Kershaw (1882–1960), American actress

References

{{surname English-language surnames Surnames of English origin

See also

References