The Old Shorrocks

In 'Surnames", by E. Weeley, there is mention of Herbert de Schirhoc, 1199-1332 Fine Rolls.

From: 'Townships: Mellor', A History of the County of Lancaster: Volume 6 (1911) by William Farrer & J. Brownhill (eds), pp. 260-263. URL: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=53112 Date accessed: 21 November 2009.

‘The two lords of Mellor in 1292 sued Alice de Shorrok, Adam de Hunteleye and Henry de Sholley for felling 300 oak trees price 40s. in their wood since 1284. Deuyas afterwards withdrew; Assize R. 408, m. 53 d.

The family of Shorrock appear at Shorrock Green at an early date. William and Henry, sons of Roger de Shorok, occur about 1300. Richard de Shorrok (Rico de Shorrok) was one of the largest contributors to the subsidy of 1332. William his son was a freeholder here in 1336. John de Shorrok contributed to the poll tax of 1379; and his son and heir William was in possession of 'Old Shorock' in Mellor in 1411. Geoffrey Shorock made his will before witnesses in 1459.

In 1336 the free tenants of the manor of Mellor were William de Huntingdon, Dame Matilda de Holand, John de Coppedhurst, William de Shorrock, Henry de Haukeshagh, Robert and Adam de Blakeburn.

A settlement was made on William Shorrok in 1395 upon his marriage to Margaret daughter and co-heir of Thomas de Werden, subject to the life estate of William son of Adam de Huntingdon. Thomas de Werden appears to have married the heiress of the Huntingdon family, who held lands here from the time of Edward II, by feoffment of Robert de Holand, John son of Robert de Mellor and Gilbert de Southworth; Towneley MSS. (Chet. Lib.), C 8, 13, T 235.

In 1411 John son of Thomas Layland released to William son and heir of John Shorrock his title to lands and tenements called 'Olde Shorrok' which John Shorrock had by his feoffment after the death of Thomas Molyneux, and he himself had by feoffment of Margaret daughter and heir of John Shorrock; Towneley MS. (Chet. Lib.), C 8, 13, p. 843.’

[I have to admit to a level of awkwardness in posting this. I have always been very much an egalitarian and very suspicious of any symbols of supposed superiority or privilege. On the other hand: a) like as not my family were peasants who took their name from the place or their masters, b) I was obsessed by heraldry and medieval history as a kid and remember pushing Horace and Meg to take me to Over Peover Church to do some brass rubbings relating to the Mainwaring Family, so perhaps its just a reversal to innocent youth]