Cordery History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Cordery is an ancient Norman name that arrived in England after the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Cordery family lived in Berkshire. The name, however, refers to the area of Cordray, in Eure, Normandy, where the family lived prior to the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. "Benedict de Coudray was witness to a charter of Roger de Menilwarin to Deulacresse Abbey (Mon. ii.) and Fulco de Coudray held one fee from Abingdon Abbey." 1

Early Origins of the Cordery family

The surname Cordery was first found in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 where John de Coudray (no county) was listed. A few years later, the Writs of Parliament listed William de Coudraye, 1307. 2

Early History of the Cordery family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Cordery research. Another 100 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1530, 1577, 1588, 1590, 1600, 1616, 1618, 1619, 1664 and 1684 are included under the topic Early Cordery History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Cordery Spelling Variations

Multitudes of spelling variations are a hallmark of Anglo Norman names. Most of these names evolved in the 11th and 12th century, in the time after the Normans introduced their own Norman French language into a country where Old and Middle English had no spelling rules and the languages of the court were French and Latin. To make matters worse, medieval scribes spelled words according to sound, so names frequently appeared differently in the various documents in which they were recorded. The name was spelled Cowdrey, Cowdray, Cowderey, Cowderoy, Corderoy, Cordroy, Cowdroy, Cowdry, Cowdery and many more.

Early Notables of the Cordery family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Abbott Monsire Cowdrey; and Daniel Cawdry (Cawdrey) (1588-1664), an English clergyman, member of the Westminster Assembly. He was the youngest son of Robert Cawdry. 3Zachary Cawdry (1616-1684), author of the 'Discourse of Patronage,' was born in 1616 at Melton Mowbray, of which town his father, also called Zachary, was vicar. 3Jeremy Corderory (fl. 1600), was an English divine, "the son of a Wiltshire gentleman. He was sent about 1577...
Another 76 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Cordery Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Cordery migration to the United States +

Because of this political and religious unrest within English society, many people decided to immigrate to the colonies. Families left for Ireland, North America, and Australia in enormous numbers, traveling at high cost in extremely inhospitable conditions. The New World in particular was a desirable destination, but the long voyage caused many to arrive sick and starving. Those who made it, though, were welcomed by opportunities far greater than they had known at home in England. Many of these families went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Cordery or a variant listed above:

Cordery Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Edward Cordery, who landed in Virginia in 1651 4
William Cordery, who landed in Virginia in 1651 4
Elizabeth Cordery, who arrived in Maryland in 1668 4

Cordery Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

A. Cordery, aged 22, who immigrated to America, in 1894
Sara M. Cordery, aged 25, who settled in America, in 1894
William Cordery, aged 2, who immigrated to America, in 1894

Cordery Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Edwin Arthur Cordery, aged 26, who landed in America from Shrewsbury, England, in 1910
Edith Cordery, aged 17, who immigrated to the United States from London, England, in 1912
Thomas Cordery, aged 26, who immigrated to the United States from Reading, England, in 1914
Walter Cordery, aged 38, who landed in America, in 1918
Albert Cordery, aged 45, who landed in America from London, England, in 1919
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Cordery (post 1700) +

Hugh Sherwood Cordery (1880-1973), English-born, New Zealand customs official
Richard Cordery, British actor

Citations +

The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)