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![Show Contents]() Pleyer History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 England
The name Pleyer finds its origins with the ancient Anglo-Saxons of England. It was given to one who worked as a person who worked as a player, which was originally derived from the Old English word plegere. In this case the Pleyer surname referred to those individuals who were musicians or actors who played for a living. 1 While most sources believe the name is Saxon, one source claims that the name may have been Norman as the Magni Rotuli Scaccarii Normanniae lists Andreas Placitor in Normandy (1180-1195.) 2 Early Origins of the Pleyer familyThe surname Pleyer was first found in Middlesex where they held a family seat from early times and their first records appeared on the early census rolls taken by the early Kings of Britain to determine the rate of taxation of their subjects. Early History of the Pleyer familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Pleyer research. Another 112 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1561, 1582, 1596, 1604, 1606, 1608, 1609, 1619, 1651, 1660, 1672 and 1755 are included under the topic Early Pleyer History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Pleyer Spelling VariationsThe English language only became standardized in the last few centuries; therefore, spelling variations are common among early Anglo-Saxon names. As the form of the English language changed, even the spelling of literate people's names evolved. Pleyer has been recorded under many different variations, including Player, Pleyer, Players and others. Early Notables of the Pleyer familyNotables of this surname at this time include: Sir Thomas Player (1608-1672), English Chamberlain of London, son of Robert Player of Canterbury. He was one of the leading residents in Hackney, where he had a large house in Mare Street, and he soon occupied a prominent position in the city. He became a member of the Haberdashers' Company, and was elected by the livery chamberlain of London on 20 Oct. 1651. On 5 July 1660 he...
Another 75 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Pleyer Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Pleyer familyFor many English families, the political and religious disarray that shrouded England made the far away New World an attractive prospect. On cramped disease-ridden ships, thousands migrated to those British colonies that would eventually become Canada and the United States. Those hardy settlers that survived the journey often went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Pleyer or a variant listed above: Robert Player, who settled in Nevis in 1663; John and Richard Player settled in Virginia in 1653; Thomas Player settled in Maryland in 1654.
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: Servitute clarior
Motto Translation: More illustrious by service.
- Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. 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)
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