Show ContentsSherring History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The surname Sherring is derived from Mac Searthuin, which means son of Searthun. The personal name Searthun is equivalent to Geoffrey.

Early Origins of the Sherring family

The surname Sherring was first found in County Donegal (Irish: Dún na nGall), northwest Ireland in the province of Ulster, sometimes referred to as County Tyrconnel, where they held a family seat, some say before the Anglo Norman invasion of Ireland by Strongbow in 1172. However, others claim that it is an offshoot of the Prendergast Clan in County Mayo, where they adopted the Gaelic name of O'Sirin, and established themselves on the Donegal/Fermanagh border about the year 1250.

Early History of the Sherring family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Sherring research. Another 92 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1659 and 1673 are included under the topic Early Sherring History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Sherring Spelling Variations

It was found during an investigation of the origins of the name Sherring that church officials and medieval scribes often spelled the name as it sounded. This practice lead to a single person's being documented under many spelling variations. The name Sherring has existed in the various shapes: Shearing, Sheering, Sheeran, Sharron, Sherren, Sherran, Shirran, Sheeran, Sheerin, O'Shearing, O'Sheering, O'Sheeran, O'Sharron, O'Sherren, O'Sherran, O'Shirran, O'Sheeran, O'Shearing and many more.

Early Notables of the Sherring family

More information is included under the topic Early Sherring Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Australia Sherring migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Sherring Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • James H Sherring, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "The Stratheden" in 1850 1
  • Sarah H Sherring, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "The Stratheden" in 1850 1

New Zealand Sherring migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Sherring Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Stephen Sherring, aged 17, a farm labourer, who arrived in Port Nicholson aboard the ship "Gertrude" in 1841 2

Contemporary Notables of the name Sherring (post 1700) +

  • Matthew Atmore Sherring (1826-1880), English missionary to India, born at Halstead, Essex


The Sherring 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: Vincit Veritas
Motto Translation: Truth conquers.


  1. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) The STRATHEDEN 1850. Retrieved http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1850Stratheden.htm
  2. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 12th December 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html


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