Sherrill History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The ancestors of the Sherrill family brought their name to England in the wave of migration after the Norman Conquest of 1066. They lived in Cornwall. Their name, however, is a reference to Serlo, Normandy, the family's place of residence prior to the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. However, may of the family remained in Normandy as seen by Robert Sorel who was listed there (1180-1195.) 1

Early Origins of the Sherrill family

The surname Sherrill was first found in Cornwall where the name can be found from ancient times as both a surname and a forename. Sarlo Iuuenis was one of the first on record in 1091-1093. 2

"Thankes or Thancks, a delightful residence in the [parish of Antony in East, Cornwall] is situated near Torpoint, on the margin of the Hamoaze. This place originally took its name from a family called Thomke, who resided on it, and to whom it was enfranchised in the reign of Henry V. From the Thonke family it passed to the Searles, and from the Searles it was conveyed to the Warne family." 3

In the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, the name continues to be found in both ways: Sarle Tinctor in Huntingdonshire and Matilda Sarle in Cambridgeshire. 4

There is a history of an association with clergy as shown by Robert Saryll, clericus in 1412 in Yorkshire, and few years later in the same area Thomas Serle, capallanus, filius Roberti Sarle, clerici in 1438. 2

One would presume that these latter two listings were father and son who both followed the same profession.

Early History of the Sherrill family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Sherrill research. Another 76 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1620, 1656, 1659, 1683, 1777, 1789, 1796, 1797, 1798, 1799, 1800, 1802 and 1849 are included under the topic Early Sherrill History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Sherrill Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years the English language had no fixed system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations occurred commonly in Anglo Norman surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Sherrill were recorded, including Searle, Searles, Searl, Sarl, Sarrell, Serrell and others.

Early Notables of the Sherrill family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Anthony Searle of Thanks at the time of King Richard III; and Samuel Serle (1620-1683), an English politician, Member of Parliament for Honiton (1656-1659.)Thomas Searle (1777-1849), was a British rear-admiral, "son of James Searle of Staddlescombe, Devonshire, was born on 29 May 1777. He entered the navy in November 1789, served on the Mediterranean, home, and Newfoundland stations, and in 1796 was in the Royal George, flagship of Lord Bridport, by whose interest he was made lieutenant, on 19 Aug., to...
Another 89 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Sherrill Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Sherrill Ranking

In the United States, the name Sherrill is the 2,010^th most popular surname with an estimated 14,922 people with that name. 5

Migration of the Sherrill family to Ireland

Some of the Sherrill 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.

Sherrill migration to the United States +

The unstable environment in England at this time caused numerous families to board ships and leave in search of opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad in places like Ireland, Australia, and particularly the New World. The voyage was extremely difficult, however, and only taken at great expense. The cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels caused many to arrive diseased and starving, not to mention destitute from the enormous cost. Still opportunity in the emerging nations of Canada and the United States was far greater than at home and many went on to make important contributions to the cultures of their adopted countries. An examination of many early immigration records reveals that people bearing the name Sherrill arrived in North America very early:

Sherrill Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Samuel Sherrill, who arrived in Maryland in 1664 6

Contemporary Notables of the name Sherrill (post 1700) +

Billy Norris Sherrill (1936-2015), American record producer, songwriter and arranger, known for his work with Tammy Wynette and George Jones, inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville, TN in 2008
General Charles Hitchcock Sherrill (1867-1936), American politician, diplomat and sport officer, U.S. Minister to Argentina from 1909 to 1910, and United States Ambassador to Turkey from 1932 to 1933
Tim Sherrill (b. 1965), American former Major League Baseball left-handed relief pitcher
Jennifer Sherrill (b. 1984), American beauty queen, Miss Arkansas USA 2004
John L. Sherrill (b. 1923), and Elizabeth Sherrill (born 1928), American Christian writers
Henry Knox Sherrill (1890-1980), American Episcopal clergyman, the 20th Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church from 1947 to 1958
Eliakim Sherrill (1813-1863), United States Congressman from the state of New York
Joya Sherrill (1924-2010), American jazz vocalist and children's television show host, she toured with Benny Goodman in the USSR in 1962
Homer "Pappy" Lee Sherrill (1915-2001), American Old Time and Bluegrass fiddler
Brigadier-General Stephen Huntting Sherrill (1893-1956), American Commanding General Eastern Signal Corps Training Center, Fort Monmouth, New Jersey in 1945 7
... (Another 4 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Sherrill family +

USS Arizona

Mr. Warren Joseph Sherrill, American Yeoman Second Class from Texas, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 8

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)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Hutchins, Fortescue, The History of Cornwall, from the Earliest Records and Traditions to the Present Time. London: William Penaluna, 1824. Print
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
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)
Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2014, March 26) Stephen Sherrill. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Sherrill/Stephen_Huntting/USA.html
Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html