Shafto family
The Shafto family is an English landed family whose name developed as an alternative surname of the Ffolliot family, with longstanding associations with Northumberland and County Durham.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
The Shafto family is an English landed and political family associated principally with Northumberland and County Durham. The name is described as an alternative surname adopted by the Ffolliot family after its establishment at Shafto Crag in Northumberland during the fourteenth century. It is therefore better understood as a historical family lineage and surname tradition than as a commercial brand or corporate organization. A principal branch became connected with Little Bavington in Northumberland during the fifteenth century, when William Shafto married the Bavington heiress. Bavington subsequently became a major family seat, and the earlier medieval residence was replaced by Bavington Hall in the seventeenth century. Members of this branch held important county offices: William Shafto served as High Sheriff of Northumberland in 1646, followed by his son John in 1675. Both were later attainted for their participation in the Jacobite rising of 1715, leading to the forfeiture of the Bavington estate. The property was eventually restored to the family through the intervention of George Shafto Delaval, who acquired the sequestered estate and rebuilt the family's position there. George later served as High Sheriff and represented Northumberland in Parliament. The male line at Bavington later ended, and the estate passed to relatives from the Beamish branch before eventually being sold in 1994. Another important line arose in Newcastle. Mark Shafto, a younger son of Edward Shafto of Bavington, became a merchant in the city and served as mayor in 1548. His descendants occupied civic, legal and parliamentary roles over several generations. The Newcastle and Whitworth branch acquired Whitworth Hall in County Durham in the seventeenth century. Members of this line served as Newcastle recorders, sheriffs, members of Parliament and senior lawyers. Robert Shafto, later known popularly as “Bobby Shafto,” represented Durham and Downton in the House of Commons and became one of the best-known individuals associated with the family name. The Whitworth estate remained connected with the family until its sale in 1981. The family also maintained a Benwell branch. Robert Shafto, sheriff of Newcastle in 1607, left Benwell Towers to his son. Several subsequent generations named Robert served as High Sheriff of Northumberland. The estate was sold in the eighteenth century after the last male holder outlived his only son. The Beamish branch gained prominence through the marriage of Robert Eden Duncombe Shafto of Whitworth to Catherine Eden, which brought Beamish Hall into the family network. Beamish passed through several generations, including Thomas Duncombe Shafto and Slingsby Arthur Duncombe Shafto. Slingsby Duncombe Shafto, who served as High Sheriff of Durham in 1908, sold Beamish in 1949 and moved to Bavington Hall. The family later sold Bavington in 1994. Across these branches, the Shaftos were associated with landed estates, county administration, parliamentary representation, legal practice, mercantile activity and marriage alliances with other prominent northern families. Their historical significance lies in regional landholding and public service rather than in the operation of a modern enterprise. No current corporate structure, commercial product portfolio, executive team or active brand business is identified in the supplied reference material.
History
The Shafto family is described as an alternative-surname branch of the Ffolliot family. The lineage was established at Shafto Crag in Northumberland in the fourteenth century, after which the Shafto name became associated with several landed and urban branches in northern England. The Little Bavington branch began when William Shafto married the heiress of Bavington in the fifteenth century. Bavington became the principal seat of this line, and a seventeenth-century hall replaced the earlier medieval house. William Shafto served as High Sheriff of Northumberland in 1646, while his son John held the same office in 1675. Both were involved in the Jacobite rising of 1715 and were attainted in 1716. As a consequence, the Bavington estate was forfeited to the Crown. George Shafto, a nephew who later used the additional surname Delaval, married into the Delaval family. His uncle by marriage, Admiral George Delaval, purchased the sequestered estate and restored it to the Shafto connection. George Shafto Delaval served as High Sheriff in 1740 and represented Northumberland in Parliament from 1757 to 1774. Later holders included Sir Cuthbert Shafto and Robert Shafto. The family’s direct male line eventually ended, and Bavington passed to cousins from the Beamish branch. After Slingsby Duncombe Shafto sold Beamish in 1949, that branch moved to Bavington. The family ultimately sold the Bavington estate in 1994. The Newcastle and Whitworth line descended from Mark Shafto, a younger son of Edward Shafto of Bavington. Mark became a Newcastle merchant and was mayor in 1548. His descendants included civic officials, merchants, lawyers and parliamentarians. Robert Shafto served as sheriff of Newcastle in 1607, while his younger relative Mark Shafto became a barrister of Gray’s Inn and Recorder of Newcastle in 1648. In 1652, Mark acquired the Whitworth Hall estate in County Durham. His son Robert was appointed Recorder of Newcastle in 1660, knighted in 1670 and made a serjeant-at-law in 1674. Later generations represented Durham City and County Durham in Parliament. Robert Shafto, born in 1732 and commonly remembered as “Bobby Shafto,” represented County Durham between 1760 and 1768 and later Downton between 1780 and 1790. His marriage to Anne Duncombe strengthened the family’s landed position. His son Robert Eden Duncombe Shafto inherited Whitworth and added the surname Eden after marrying Catherine Eden. Their descendants continued the family’s parliamentary and estate connections. The Whitworth Hall was badly damaged by fire in 1872; most of the building was later demolished and replaced, with the library wing surviving from the earlier structure. The estate was sold in 1981. The Benwell branch was established through Robert Shafto of Newcastle, who left Benwell Towers to his eldest son. Three later holders named Robert served as High Sheriff of Northumberland in 1695, 1717 and 1756. The final Robert was depicted in a portrait by Sir Joshua Reynolds and survived his only son. His daughter Camilla married William Adair, and Benwell was subsequently sold to William Ord of Fenham. Beamish Hall entered the family network through the marriage of Robert Eden Duncombe Shafto and Catherine Eden. On Robert’s death in 1848, the estate passed to his third son Thomas Duncombe Shafto and later to his nephew Slingsby Arthur Duncombe Shafto. A later Slingsby Duncombe Shafto served as High Sheriff of Durham in 1908, sold Beamish in 1949 and relocated to Bavington. These estate transfers illustrate the importance of marriage, inheritance and cousinship in maintaining the family’s regional position. The historical record presents the Shaftos as a network of related branches rather than as a single continuously controlled institution. Their activities included landholding, county office, municipal government, legal practice, parliamentary representation and commerce. The supplied sources do not identify a contemporary company, consumer product line or active commercial organization operating under the Shafto family name.
- 1994
Bavington estate sold
[1]The family’s later Bavington holding was sold.
- 1981
Whitworth estate sold
[1]The Whitworth estate was sold by the family.
- 1949
Beamish sold
[1]Slingsby Duncombe Shafto sold Beamish Hall and moved the family branch to Bavington.
- 1908
Slingsby Duncombe Shafto serves as High Sheriff
[1]Slingsby Duncombe Shafto held the office of High Sheriff of Durham.
- 1872
Whitworth Hall damaged by fire
[1]Whitworth Hall suffered severe fire damage; most of the historic house was later replaced.
- 1848
Beamish passes into a later family branch
[1]Following the death of Robert Eden Duncombe Shafto, Beamish Hall passed to Thomas Duncombe Shafto.
- 1760
Bobby Shafto begins parliamentary career
[1]Robert Shafto, popularly known as Bobby Shafto, began representing County Durham in Parliament.
- 1757
George Shafto Delaval enters Parliament
[1]George Shafto Delaval began representing Northumberland in Parliament, serving until 1774.
- 1716
Bavington estate forfeited
[1]William and John Shafto were attainted for their part in the Jacobite rising of 1715, and Bavington was forfeited to the Crown.
- 1652
Whitworth Hall acquired
[1]Mark Shafto, a barrister and Recorder of Newcastle, purchased the Whitworth Hall estate in County Durham.
Products and positioning
A historical English family lineage and surname tradition associated with landed estates, civic office, parliamentary service and northern English genealogy.
Sources2 sources
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