Shaw is an English and Scottish surname that originated from a medieval nickname for someone with a shaggy or unkempt appearance. The name can be traced back to the Anglo-Saxon period and is derived from the Old English word “sceaga,” meaning “thicket” or “copse.” Famous bearers of the Shaw surname include Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw, American actor Martin Shaw, and Scottish footballer Graeme Shaw. Today, the name is most common in the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada.
