Show ContentsEyrich History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The origins of the name Eyrich are with the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. The name is derived from the Old Danish and Old Swedish name Erik and the Old Norse name Eiríkr. Many Scandinavian personal names were left in the British Isles as a legacy of the Viking raids which plagued the coastal regions of Britain from the 8th to 10th centuries, and many of these eventually became Anglo-Saxon surnames.

Early Origins of the Eyrich family

The surname Eyrich was first found in Leicestershire. The name was listed as Eiric, Eric, and Erish in the Domesday Book of 1086. [1] John Eirich was the first listing of the family in Leicestershire in 1211. [2]

"There is a tradition that the most ancient family of the Ericks derive lineage from Erick the Forester, a great commander, who raised an army to oppose the invasion of William the Conqueror, by whom he was vanquished, but afterwards employed to command that prince's forces, and in old age retired to his house in Leicestershire, where his family hath continued ever since." [3]

Early History of the Eyrich family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Eyrich research. Another 97 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1450, 1557, 1591, 1592, 1600, 1658, 1667, 1674, 1685, 1686, 1694, 1695 and 1753 are included under the topic Early Eyrich History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Eyrich Spelling Variations

The first dictionaries that appeared in the last few hundred years did much to standardize the English language. Before that time, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. The language was changing, incorporating pieces of other languages, and the spelling of names changed with it. Eyrich has been spelled many different ways, including Herrick, Herricke and others.

Early Notables of the Eyrich family

Notables of the family at this time include Robert Herrick (1591-1674), and English poet, the fourth son of Nicholas Herrick, a goldsmith in Cheapside, by his wife Julian Stone who was baptised at the church of St. Vedast, Foster Lane, on 24 August 1591. He who wrote over 2,500 poems. His father, who came of an ancient Leicestershire family of Heyricks or Eyrickes, died in November 1592 of injuries caused by a fall from an upper window of his house. It was suspected that the fall was not accidental. [4]Thomas Heyrick (d. 1694), English poet and divine, son of Thomas Heyrick...
Another 187 words (13 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Eyrich Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Eyrich family to Ireland

Some of the Eyrich family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Eyrich migration to the United States +

Thousands of English families in this era began to emigrate the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. Although the passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe, those who made the voyage safely were rewarded with opportunities unavailable to them in their homeland. Research into passenger and immigration lists has revealed some of the very first Eyrichs to arrive in North America:

Eyrich Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Matheas Eyrich, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1750 [5]
  • Michael Eyrich, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1750 [5]
  • Andreas Eyrich, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1752 [5]
  • Joh Philip Eyrich, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1754 [5]

Contemporary Notables of the name Eyrich (post 1700) +

  • W. Everett Eyrich, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for New York State Assembly from Broome County 1st District, 1934 [6]
  • George F. Eyrich Jr., American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Ohio, 1936 (alternate), 1940, 1944, 1948, 1952, 1956, 1960, 1964 [6]
  • George C. Eyrich, American Republican politician, Presidential Elector for Ohio, 1972 [6]


The Eyrich Motto +

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 omnia nobilitat
Motto Translation: Virtue ennobles all things.


  1. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  2. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  3. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  4. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
  5. 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)
  6. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 19) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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