Mirrie History, Family Crest & Coats of ArmsThe name Mirrie was brought to England by the Normans when they conquered the country in 1066. The ancestors of the Mirrie 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 Mirrie familyThe surname Mirrie was first found in Norfolk. However, some of the family were found at Stow-Maries in Essex. "This parish takes the adjunct to its name from the family of Marey, to whom the lands at one time belonged." 1 Early History of the Mirrie familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Mirrie research. Another 74 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1605, 1660 and 1682 are included under the topic Early Mirrie History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Mirrie Spelling VariationsIt is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, Anglo-Norman surnames like Mirrie are characterized by many spelling variations. Scribes and monks in the Middle Ages spelled names they sounded, so it is common to find several variations that refer to a single person. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages such as Norman French and Latin, even literate people regularly changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Mirrie include Merry, Mirrey, Merrie, Mirrie and others. Early Notables of the Mirrie familyAnother 34 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Mirrie Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Mirrie family to IrelandSome of the Mirrie family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. Migration of the Mirrie familyFaced with the chaos present in England at that time, many English families looked towards the open frontiers of the New World with its opportunities to escape oppression and starvation. People migrated to North America, as well as Australia and Ireland in droves, paying exorbitant rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, but those who did see the shores of North America were welcomed with great opportunity. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America carried the name Mirrie, 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.
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