Scurfield
Encyclopedia
The family name Scurfield appears to be of Old Norse, or Viking origin. “Scur” in Old English is “shower” as in rain. In Old Norse “skur” also carries the meaning shower, as in shower of rain, or a shower of arrows. The most likely origin of the surname Scurfield, therefore, is the name of an ancient field of battle.
The name Scurfield is unique and every Scurfield in the world should be able to trace the origin of their name to the County of Durham in north east England. It is not true that the surname Scurfield has evolved from the more common names of Scarfield, Scorefield, Schofield, or Scourfield. While it is still not certain from exactly where or when the name began, it is certain that if there has been any name transference, it has been the loss of the less common spelling of “Scurfield” towards the more common names of Scorefield or Scourfield. This is one of the reasons why the name Scurfield has remained unusual and scarce in the world.
. There remains the possibility that the two lines are connected, but no direct evidence of this has yet been established.
The oldest Scurfield name referenced belonged to Foulke Scurfield, who was allegedly born in the 14th century. There is a lineage for him, however that lineage ends in the 16th century and any connection to a continuing line of Scurfields is, at this point, pure speculation. The Golden Grove book of pedigrees, which is generally considered very reputable, references a Sir John Scurfield (a descendant of Foulke), of Kendal in Westmoreland. He allegedly married Mary, daughter of Sir Thomas Greene (1369–1417) and his wife Mary Talbot. The Talbots and Greenes are well-established families, but nothing further can be found on the alleged daughter Mary Greene, nor any other reference to a Scurfield connection to the Greene family.
The earliest Scurfield with traced and living descendants is George Scurfield who, in 1580, owned and occupied, Sheraton Grange Farm in the parish of Monk Hesledon. Through ownership of land, this family was “immensely wealthy” and well respected. The property was passed down through six generations of Scurfields, until William Scurfield (born 1755, Coatham, Durham), departed the world in 1790 with only one daughter. In 1831, his daughter Joanna passed the property to her eldest son, George John Grey (born 1810). Before accepting the gift, George took the name George John Grey Scurfield http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~tinlin/A.htm by royal licence. Unfortunately, none of George’s children had issue and, as a result, the property was passed down to nephews who had no interest in the property further than the money it could be sold for. Without the property to retain and generate wealth, the family money was dissipated. Even so, members of this line of Scurfield is often found to be associated with the arts, and several of George Scurfield's living descendants earn their living working as musicians, actors, and authors, such as actor Matthew Scurfield
, son of the late author George Scurfield.
The other Scurfield family line are descendants of the English working class. The earliest known patriarch of this line has the name of Simon Scurfield, who was born 1644 in Washington, Co. Durham. Nothing is known of where Simon Scurfield came from or what his occupation was, however his grandson Simon, born 1722 Washington, Co. Durham, was a Captain of the trades at the South Shore port. The County of Durham is rich in coal and the Scurfields who did not have property and wealth worked the coal mines. In the later half of the 18th century the mines started to close. By the time the Haswell Colliery was finally closed in 1896, most of the residents of the area had already moved to find employment elsewhere. The descendants of the few Scurfields who decided to seek opportunity in North America have often enjoyed unusual success in business and professional practices; such as Ralph Thomas Scurfield
, and his first cousin Justice John Scurfield
, Q.C., to name but two.
Another early settler to the United States was James Hunter Scurfield (born 1851, Seaton Delaval, Northumberland) who came to America from England through the New York Harbour. It has not been confirmed yet if he was of the gentry’s line or of Simon’s line; however he came from a family of coal miners so it is assumed that he is of Simon’s line. He arrived in the USA on September 6, 1879, and took up residence in Somerset, Pennsylvania. His first wife died at age 28 after 8 children. He remarried and had one adopted son, John Smith Scurfield (born 1902, Somerset County, Pennsylvania). The line of James Hunter continues to prosper throughout the USA.
The name Scurfield is unique and every Scurfield in the world should be able to trace the origin of their name to the County of Durham in north east England. It is not true that the surname Scurfield has evolved from the more common names of Scarfield, Scorefield, Schofield, or Scourfield. While it is still not certain from exactly where or when the name began, it is certain that if there has been any name transference, it has been the loss of the less common spelling of “Scurfield” towards the more common names of Scorefield or Scourfield. This is one of the reasons why the name Scurfield has remained unusual and scarce in the world.
Family history
There are two, Scurfield family lines - both originating from the same region in north east EnglandEngland
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. There remains the possibility that the two lines are connected, but no direct evidence of this has yet been established.
The oldest Scurfield name referenced belonged to Foulke Scurfield, who was allegedly born in the 14th century. There is a lineage for him, however that lineage ends in the 16th century and any connection to a continuing line of Scurfields is, at this point, pure speculation. The Golden Grove book of pedigrees, which is generally considered very reputable, references a Sir John Scurfield (a descendant of Foulke), of Kendal in Westmoreland. He allegedly married Mary, daughter of Sir Thomas Greene (1369–1417) and his wife Mary Talbot. The Talbots and Greenes are well-established families, but nothing further can be found on the alleged daughter Mary Greene, nor any other reference to a Scurfield connection to the Greene family.
The earliest Scurfield with traced and living descendants is George Scurfield who, in 1580, owned and occupied, Sheraton Grange Farm in the parish of Monk Hesledon. Through ownership of land, this family was “immensely wealthy” and well respected. The property was passed down through six generations of Scurfields, until William Scurfield (born 1755, Coatham, Durham), departed the world in 1790 with only one daughter. In 1831, his daughter Joanna passed the property to her eldest son, George John Grey (born 1810). Before accepting the gift, George took the name George John Grey Scurfield http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~tinlin/A.htm by royal licence. Unfortunately, none of George’s children had issue and, as a result, the property was passed down to nephews who had no interest in the property further than the money it could be sold for. Without the property to retain and generate wealth, the family money was dissipated. Even so, members of this line of Scurfield is often found to be associated with the arts, and several of George Scurfield's living descendants earn their living working as musicians, actors, and authors, such as actor Matthew Scurfield
Matthew Scurfield
Matthew Scurfield is an actor and the eldest child of the late author George Scurfield and his wife Cecilia in Cambridge, England....
, son of the late author George Scurfield.
The other Scurfield family line are descendants of the English working class. The earliest known patriarch of this line has the name of Simon Scurfield, who was born 1644 in Washington, Co. Durham. Nothing is known of where Simon Scurfield came from or what his occupation was, however his grandson Simon, born 1722 Washington, Co. Durham, was a Captain of the trades at the South Shore port. The County of Durham is rich in coal and the Scurfields who did not have property and wealth worked the coal mines. In the later half of the 18th century the mines started to close. By the time the Haswell Colliery was finally closed in 1896, most of the residents of the area had already moved to find employment elsewhere. The descendants of the few Scurfields who decided to seek opportunity in North America have often enjoyed unusual success in business and professional practices; such as Ralph Thomas Scurfield
Ralph Thomas Scurfield
Ralph Thomas Scurfield, B.Sc , the son of Ralph and Ann Scurfield . He received his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Manitoba in 1948. He was the President and Chief Executive Officer of Nu-West Group Limited , and was an original owner of the Calgary Flames...
, and his first cousin Justice John Scurfield
John Scurfield
John M. Scurfield QC , styled The Honourable Mr. Justice was a Canadian judge.Scurfield was born in Manitou, Manitoba, the second of four children to his late parents William Edward Scurfield , and Cynthia May Scurfield...
, Q.C., to name but two.
Early settlers to the United States of America
While there may have been earlier Scurfields who came to America, the first to have moved and settled appears to have been Thomas Scurfield, who was born 1832 in Easington Lane, Co. Durham. In 1854 Thomas married Mary Harding. They obviously had a difficult life as five of their eight children died in England. In 1866 he gambled for a better life and emigrated with his wife and their three living children to the USA, where they settled in the Monongahela, Pennsylvania area. Many of the American Scurfield’s will trace their roots back to one of his two sons, Thomas Scurfield (born 1857) and John D Scurfield (born 1859).Another early settler to the United States was James Hunter Scurfield (born 1851, Seaton Delaval, Northumberland) who came to America from England through the New York Harbour. It has not been confirmed yet if he was of the gentry’s line or of Simon’s line; however he came from a family of coal miners so it is assumed that he is of Simon’s line. He arrived in the USA on September 6, 1879, and took up residence in Somerset, Pennsylvania. His first wife died at age 28 after 8 children. He remarried and had one adopted son, John Smith Scurfield (born 1902, Somerset County, Pennsylvania). The line of James Hunter continues to prosper throughout the USA.
Early settlers to Canada
The first settlers in Canada were two brothers, Ralph Davison Scurfield (born 1871, Haswell, Co. Durham) and Thomas John Scurfield (born 1872, Haswell, Co. Durham). After the local coal mine in Haswell was closed, the brother’s took the opportunity to travel to the open land of Manitoba, Canada. Ralph first travelled to Canada in 1887, and eventually both brothers settled in Manitou, Manitoba where together they built a house. An interesting thing about these two brothers is that they married two sisters (Margaret and Sarah Ann Milburn) who were also from Haswell. By 1896 the two young couples were both starting to raise their young families in Manitou. Ralph had two daughters, Violet and Ruby, and Thomas had 10 surviving children, including five sons. The line of Ralph Davison Scurfield continues to prosper, and it is from this line that most every Scurfield in western Canada originates.Early settlers to Australia
The earliest Scurfield settler to Australia appears to be William Dixon Scurfield (born 1811, Alnwick, Northumberland) who, in 1852, arrived in Melbourne, Australia with his wife, Catherine Hetherington Barwise, and children. His eldest son, John Barwise Scurfield (born 1844, Liverpool, Lancashire) married an English born woman named Charlotte Fox in 1866 in Melbourne. They had 12 children, nine of whom raised families in Australia.Notable Scurfields
- Elizabeth Clare ScurfieldElizabeth Clare ScurfieldElizabeth Scurfield a sinologist, is the world’s leading published author for books on learning how to speak, read, and write Chinese...
(1950 - ): English author of the Teach Yourself Chinese series published by McGraw Hill.
- George Bazeley ScurfieldGeorge Bazeley ScurfieldGeorge Bazeley Scurfield was an English author, poet, and politician. He was born on 19 March 1920 in Leicestershire, England, and died on 15 December 1991 in Norwich, England. He married Cecilia Hopkinson in 1947 at Cambridge, England...
(1920–1991): English author, poet, and politician.
- Gordon ScurfieldGordon ScurfieldGordon Scurfield was an Australian biologist and author, with expertise in botany and ecology. He engaged in a variety of projects in several divisions of CSIRO, and published over 50 papers in journals serving fields as diverse as chemistry, haematology and mineralogy.- Biography :Scurfield was...
(1924–1996): English biologist and author, with expertise in botany and ecology, who published over 50 papers in journals serving fields as diverse as chemistry, haematology and mineralogy.
- Hugh Hedley ScurfieldHugh Hedley ScurfieldHugh Scurfield is an English actuary of considerable note. He was born December 9, 1935 in the County of Durham, England; the third of four children to William Russell Scurfield and Elizabeth Morton Scurfield . He graduated from Hertford College, Oxford with an M.A...
(1935 - ): English actuary; past president of Institute of ActuariesInstitute of ActuariesThe Institute of Actuaries was one of the two professional which represented actuaries in the United Kingdom . The Institute was based in England, while the other body, the Faculty of Actuaries, was based in Scotland...
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- The Honourable Mr. Justice John ScurfieldJohn ScurfieldJohn M. Scurfield QC , styled The Honourable Mr. Justice was a Canadian judge.Scurfield was born in Manitou, Manitoba, the second of four children to his late parents William Edward Scurfield , and Cynthia May Scurfield...
(1951 - 2009): Justice of the Court of Queen's Bench of ManitobaCourt of Queen's Bench of ManitobaThe Court of Queen's Bench of Manitoba is the superior court of the Canadian province of Manitoba...
, Former President of the Manitoba Law Society and Fomer President of the Manitoba Liberal Party
- Matt ScurfieldMatt ScurfieldMatthew Robert Scurfield is a Canadian-born American musician and songwriter from Massachusetts. He is a drummer and a notable figure in the progressive rock scene. His professional work includes studio work, touring and live performances...
(1976 - ): American rock drummer who has recorded with the likes of Joe StumpJoe StumpJoe Stump is an American guitarist and composer. He plays neo-classical metal, in a style similar to that of Yngwie Malmsteen. He has released albums with his band, Reign of Terror, and as a solo artist. He also plays the lead guitar for the symphonic metal band HolyHell...
, Jaye Foucher, and Gary HoeyGary HoeyGary Hoey is a surfer-rock musician.- Early life and early career :At fourteen, Hoey often lingered outside Boston's renowned Berklee College of Music, making friends and offering to pay for lessons. To devote his time to music, he dropped out of high school and began playing Boston's local clubs...
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- Matthew ScurfieldMatthew ScurfieldMatthew Scurfield is an actor and the eldest child of the late author George Scurfield and his wife Cecilia in Cambridge, England....
(1948 - ): English film, television and theatre actor.
- Ralph D. ScurfieldRalph D. ScurfieldRalph D. Scurfield is the CEO, President, and majority shareholder of Sunshine Village Corporation,The oldest of seven children of Ralph T. and Sonia Scurfield. Ralph and his brothers and sisters grew up in Calgary, Alberta. He is best known as the owner and operator of Banff's Sunshine Village...
(1956 - ): CEO, President, and majority shareholder of Sunshine VillageSunshine VillageSunshine Village is a Canadian ski resort, located within Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada. It is one of three major ski resorts located in the Banff National Park. The Sunshine base area is located Southwest of the town of Banff, Alberta. By car, it is about one hour and thirty minute drive...
Corporation.
- Ralph M. ScurfieldRalph M. ScurfieldRalph Merle Scurfield, born 20 August 1928 in Pennsylvania, served on the California Horse Racing Board from 1991 through 1999, serving as chairman of the board from 1992 to 1999....
(1928 - ): Former long-term chairman of the California Horse Racing BoardCalifornia Horse Racing BoardThe California Horse Racing Board was established in 1933 as an independent agency of the State of California, United States. The CHRB has authority over the regulation of horse racing and parimutuel betting at licensed California race tracks...
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- Ralph Thomas ScurfieldRalph Thomas ScurfieldRalph Thomas Scurfield, B.Sc , the son of Ralph and Ann Scurfield . He received his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Manitoba in 1948. He was the President and Chief Executive Officer of Nu-West Group Limited , and was an original owner of the Calgary Flames...
(1928–1985): Legendary Canadian businessman, President and CEO of Nu-West Group Inc. and former co-owner of the Calgary FlamesCalgary FlamesThe Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is the third major-professional ice hockey team to represent the city of Calgary, following the...
from 1980 to 1985.
- Dr. Raymond M. ScurfieldRaymond Monsour ScurfieldDr. Raymond Monsour Scurfield, born in Chicago, IL, in 1943, is professor of social work at The University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Coast. He has been recognized internationally for his expertise in war-related and naturala disaster Psychological trauma...
(1943 - ): American author and an internationally recognized expert in war-related trauma.
- Scott ScurfieldScott ScurfieldScott Alan Scurfield is a former Somerset County public defender. Scurfield is notable for acting in the defense of West Pharmaceutical Services in litigation following the explosion and fire at the company’s Kinston, North Carolina facility in January 2003.Scurfield has been licensed to...
: American lawyer and former Somerset County public defender.
- Sergei Scurfield (1962 - ): Canadian businessman and lawyer. Director and co-owner of Sunshine Village Corporation.
- Sonia ScurfieldSonia ScurfieldSonia Scurfield, B.A was a co-owner of the Calgary Flames hockey team from 1985 to 1994. She became only the second woman, and the only Canadian woman, to have her name engraved on the Stanley Cup when the Calgary Flames won the National Hockey League championship in 1989.- Biography :Sonia...
(1928 - ): co-owner of the Calgary Flames from 1985 - 1994. First Canadian woman to have her name engraved on the Stanley CupStanley CupThe Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
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