Merrey History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

• Origins Available:
• England
• Ireland

Etymology of Merrey

Merrey is a name whose history on English soil dates back to the wave of migration that followed the Norman Conquest of England of 1066. The Merrey family lived in Norfolk. Their name, however, is a reference to the family's place of residence prior to the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, Meret, Normandy.

Early Origins of the Merrey family

Early History of the Merrey family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Merrey research. Another 74 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1605, 1660 and 1682 are included under the topic Early Merrey History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Merrey Spelling Variations

A multitude of spelling variations characterize Norman surnames. Many variations occurred because Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules. The introduction of Norman French to England also had a pronounced effect, as did the court languages of Latin and French. Therefore, one person was often referred to by several different spellings in a single lifetime. The various spellings include Merry, Mirrey, Merrie, Mirrie and others.

Early Notables of the Merrey family

Another 34 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Merrey Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Merrey family to Ireland

Some of the Merrey family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 31 words (2 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Merrey family

Many English families left England, to avoid the chaos of their homeland and migrated to the many British colonies abroad. Although the conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and some travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute, once in the colonies, many of the families prospered and made valuable contributions to the cultures of what would become the United States and Canada. Research into the origins of individual families in North America has revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Merrey or a variant listed above: Savage Merrie settled in Virginia in 1637; John Merrie settled in St. Christopher in 1633; John Merry later moved to Virginia in 1643; Thomas Merry settled in Virginia in 1654.