Show ContentsSurrey History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Surrey family

The surname Surrey was first found in Devon where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor. The Saxon influence of English history diminished after the Battle of Hastings in 1066. The language of the courts was French for the next three centuries and the Norman ambience prevailed. But Saxon surnames survived and the family name was first referenced in the 13th century when they held estates in that shire.

Early History of the Surrey family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Surrey research. Another 100 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1143, 1219, 1455, 1487, 1580, 1609 and 1625 are included under the topic Early Surrey History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Surrey Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Surrey, Surrais, Surreis, Surridge, Surrich, Surrage and many more.

Early Notables of the Surrey family

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


United States Surrey migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Surrey Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Thomas Surrey, who arrived in Maryland in 1671 1

Australia Surrey migration to Australia +

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

Surrey Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

New Zealand Surrey 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:

Surrey Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Isaac Surrey, aged 34, a labourer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Avalanche" in 1875
  • Mary A. Surrey, aged 26, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Avalanche" in 1875
  • Robert G. Surrey, aged 9, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Avalanche" in 1875
  • Alfred E. Surrey, aged 8, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Avalanche" in 1875
  • Percy H. Surrey, aged 6, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Avalanche" in 1875
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Surrey (post 1700) +

  • William Surrey Hart (1862-1946), American silent film actor, screenwriter, director, and producer. He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6363 Hollywood Blvd. and in 1975, he was inducted into the Western Performers Hall of Fame

HMS Hood
  • Mr. Archibald H Surrey (b. 1908), English Chief Petty Officer Writer serving for the Royal Navy from Brighton, Sussex, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 3


  1. 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)
  2. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 21st September 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/fairlie
  3. H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm


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