| ![Show Contents]() Eyer History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The name Eyer is of Anglo-Saxon origin. It was name for a person who was well-known as the heir to a title, fortune, or estate. The name is thought to be derived from the Old French eir, which is itself derived from the Latin heres, meaning "heir." 1 2 3 Two other sources elude to the Norman influence of the name: "Eyre: is a place-name in Normandy," 4 and the name is "from Le Heir, Heres. William and Wyrnarc Heres occur in Normandy 1198 (Magni Rotuli Scaccarii Normanniae)." 5 Early Origins of the Eyer familyThe surname Eyer was first found in Derbyshire, where the ancestral home of the main branch of the Eyer family is thought to be located. Early written records of the name Eyer have been found in many counties, notably Derbyshire, Wiltshire, and Shropshire. The Feet of Fines for Essex for 1208 includes an entry for Ralph le Eir and later, Robertus Heres was listed in the Curia Regis Rolls for Cambridgeshire in 1220. In Cambridgeshire, we found Robert leyre in the Feet of Fines for 1245 and in Gloucestershire, Richard le Heyer was listed in the Hundredorum Rolls for 1274. In Yorkshire, early records show Adam le Hayre at Wakefield in 1275 and a few years later, Robert le Heir was listed at Eynsham, Oxfordshire in 1281. 6 In the early legends of the Eyre family, it was recounted that a Knight named Eyre who fought with Richard the Lionheart at the Battle of Ascalon during the Crusades lost a leg while defending his King, which is why the family still bears a booted leg in its crest. 2 Another source, mentions that the traditional origin of the name was in circumstance of a Norman knight having at the Battle of Hastings succoured (helped) duke William of Normandy and given him air when he was in danger of suffocation. 7 "The Eyres appear as witnesses to charters in the Peak of Derbyshire in the remotest period to which private charters ascend. The first of the name known is William le Eyre, of Hope, in the reign of Henry III." 8 The chapel in Great Longstone, Derbyshire contains monuments to the "family of Eyre, earls of Newburgh." 9 The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 include entries for: Henry le Eyer, Oxfordshire; Adam le Eyr, Cambridgeshire; and William le Eyre, Cambridgeshire. 1 Early History of the Eyer familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Eyer research. Another 112 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1216, 1582, 1585, 1628, 1635, 1638, 1657, 1659, 1660, 1661, 1662, 1665, 1666, 1670, 1678, 1680, 1689, 1693, 1695, 1698, 1700, 1701, 1705, 1712, 1715, 1729, 1735 and 1768 are included under the topic Early Eyer History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Eyer Spelling VariationsSpelling variations in names were a common occurrence before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate spelled their names differently as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Eyer have been found, including Eyre, Eyer, Eyers, Eayres, Eyres, Ayer, Ayers,Heyer, Ayr, Air, Aires, Hyer, Hayer, Hoyer and many more. Early Notables of the Eyer familyNotables of the family at this time include John Ayer (1582-1657), an English settler to Massachusetts sailing aboard the ship James in 1635, settling in Ipswich, Haverhill, and Salisbury, born in Salisbury, Wiltshire.Henry Eyre (1628-1678), was an English lawyer and politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1659 and 1678; Sir Giles Eyre (c. 1635-1695), was an English politician and judge, Member of Parliament for Downton (1660-1661), and Salisbury in 1689.Sir Samuel Eyre (1638-1698), was an English judge; and his son, Sir Robert Eyre (1666-1735), an English lawyer, Solicitor-General and Chief Justice of the Common Pleas.John Ayres (fl. 1680-1700)...
Another 162 words (12 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Eyer Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.  Migration of the Eyer family to Ireland
Some of the Eyer family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 119 words (8 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
| Eyer migration to the United States | + |
Families began migrating abroad in enormous numbers because of the political and religious discontent in England. Often faced with persecution and starvation in England, the possibilities of the New World attracted many English people. Although the ocean trips took many lives, those who did get to North America were instrumental in building the necessary groundwork for what would become powerful new nations. Among early immigrants of the Eyer surname to cross the Atlantic and come to North America were:
Eyer Settlers in United States in the 17th Century- John Eyer, who landed in Massachusetts in 1635 10
Eyer Settlers in United States in the 18th Century- Hans Eyer, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1744 10
| Contemporary Notables of the name Eyer (post 1700) | + |
- Robert Thomas Eyer (b. 1948), American actor
- Richard Ross Eyer (b. 1945), American former child actor, best known for his role on the ABC television Western series Stagecoach West
- James M. Eyer, American Libertarian politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from California 9th District, 2002, 2004 11
- Henry C. Eyer, American Democratic Party politician, Member of Pennsylvania State Senate, 1843-45 (8th District 1843, 15th District 1844-45) 11
- George A. Eyer, American Republican politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from New York 18th District, 1958 11
- Louis-Emil Eyer (1865-1916), Swiss-Bulgarian sports pedagogue, regarded as the founder of the sports movement in Bulgaria
- Clement Eyer Smoot (1884-1963), American winner of an Olympic gold medal for golf at the 1904 games 12
The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.
Motto: Virtus sola invicta
Motto Translation: Virtue alone is invincible.
- Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
- Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
- Dixon, Bernard Homer, Surnames. London: John Wilson and son, 1857. Print
- Baring-Gould S., Family Names and their Story. London: Seeley, Service & Co. Limited, 1913. Print
- 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)
- Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
- Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
- Shirley, Evelyn Philip, The Noble and Gentle Men of England; The Arms and Descents. Westminster: John Bower Nichols and Sons, 1866, Print.
- Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, 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)
- The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 19) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
- Athletes - Famous Olympic Athletes, Medalists, Sports Heroes. (Retrieved 2011, December 9) Clement Smoot. Retrieved from http://www.olympic.org/content/olympic-athletes/generic-athlete-page/?athleteid=57545
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Eyer migration to the United States 
England
Ireland
