Contents [hide]

Villers History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Motto Citations

Villers History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The name Villers reached English shores for the first time with the ancestors of the Villers family as they migrated following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Villers family lived in Villiers, Normandy, the family's place of residence prior to the Norman Conquest of England in 1066.

"The family are said to have come into England with the Conqueror, which is probable. There are at present six places in Normandy so called, besides a larger number called Villers, one of the numerous ways in which the surname is spelled. The Earl of Jersey's family trace to Alexander de Villiers, lord of Brokesby, co. Lancaster, early in the XIII, century. Sir Richard de Villars was a Crusader under Edward I., and hence the cross and escallop shells in the coat-armour of his descendants." 1

The existing family of Villiers "claim to belong to the race of Villiers in Normandy, from which sprang Pierre de Villiers, Grand Master in the reign of Charles VI., and Jacques de Villiers, Provost of Paris and Mareschal of France in the same period." 2

Early Origins of the Villers family

The surname Villers was first found in Leicestershire where they held a family seat as Lords of the manor of Rokesby from the time of the Norman Conquest of England by Duke William in 1066 A.D. Galderfridus de Villers of St. Evroult, accompanied Duke William into England with his son, Pagan de Villiers, who obtained the barony of Warrington in Lancashire and was also Lord of Crosby in that same shire.

Interestingly, "the present coat of arms is said to have been assumed in the reign of Edward I., as a badge of Sir Richard de Villars' services in the crusades." 3 The previous shield was "Sable, three cinquefoils argent."

"Michael de Valers was summoned from Gloucester in 1300, for military service in Scotland." 2

Early History of the Villers family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Villers research. Another 130 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1485, 1531, 1532, 1537, 1538, 1539, 1544, 1550, 1574, 1591, 1592, 1606, 1620, 1621, 1625, 1626, 1628, 1654, 1656, 1657, 1682, 1687, 1689, 1693, 1711, 1721 and 1907 are included under the topic Early Villers History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Villers Spelling Variations

Before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Sound was what guided spelling in the Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Villers family name include Villers, Villiers, Villieres, Vilers, Viliers, Vilieres, Villars, Villere, Viller, Villier, Villiere, Viler, Vilier, Viliere, Villar, Villere, Devillieres and many more.

Early Notables of the Villers family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

Sir John Villers of Brooksby

Migration of the Villers family to Ireland

Some of the Villers family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 104 words (7 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Villers migration to the United States +

To escape the political and religious chaos of this era, thousands of English families began to migrate to the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. The passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe; however, those who made the voyage safely were encountered opportunities that were not available to them in their homeland. Many of the families that reached the New World at this time went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations of the United States and Canada. Research into various historical records has revealed some of first members of the Villers family to immigrate North America:

Villers Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Elizabeth Villers, who settled in Virginia in 1663
Elizabeth Villers, who settled in Virginia in 1670
Oliver Villers, who arrived in Maryland in 1674 4

Villers Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Cornelia Villers, who landed in Virginia in 1703 4

Villers Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

S. Villers, who settled in New Orleans in the same year
S. Villers, aged 37, settled in New Orleans in 1823
A S Villers, aged 23, who landed in New Orleans, La in 1847 4
Carlos A Villers, who arrived in Puerto Rico in 1862 4

Villers migration to Australia +

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

Villers Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

William Villers, a sawyer, who arrived in New South Wales, Australia sometime between 1825 and 1832

Contemporary Notables of the name Villers (post 1700) +

Philippe Villers, French-born, American entrepreneur who co-founded Computervision with Marty Allen in 1969
Raido Villers (b. 1982), Estonian professional basketball player
Marie-Denise Villers (1774-1821), French portrait painter
Charles Joseph de Villers (1724-1810), French naturalist
Charles François Dominique de Villers (1765-1815), French philosopher
André Villers (b. 1930), French photographer and artist

The Villers 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: Fidei coticula crux
Motto Translation: The cross is the test of truth.

Citations +

Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Cleveland, Dutchess of The Battle Abbey Roll with some Account of the Norman Lineages. London: John Murray, Abermarle Street, 1889. Print. Volume 3 of 3
Shirley, Evelyn Philip, The Noble and Gentle Men of England; The Arms and Descents. Westminster: John Bower Nichols and Sons, 1866, 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)