Perrey History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland
Scotland

Perrey is a name that first reached England following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Perrey family lived in Hampshire. Their name, however, is a reference to the Old English word perie, meaning pear tree, and indicates that the original bearer of the name lived near such a landmark. 1 "A branch came to England [in] 1066, and Matilda de Perer was mother of Hugo Parcarius, who lived temp Henry I." 2

Early Origins of the Perrey family

The surname Perrey was first found in Hampshire where they were originally descended from Norman Perree who was granted lands in Hampshire and recorded in the Domesday Book in 1086 as a tenant in chief 3, the name also appeared on the Roll of Battell Abbey. 4

From this earliest record, the family moved throughout Britain. Henry de Peri (de Piri) was listed in the Pipe Rolls of Staffordshire in 1176 and then in the Assize Rolls of Staffordshire in 1199. Richard Pirie was listed in the Pipe Rolls of Kent in 1198 and William de la Purie was listed in the Assize Rolls of Somerset in 1243.

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 list: Walter atte-Pyrie in Oxfordshire; Roger de la Peyre in Cambridgeshire; and Richard de la Pirie in Oxfordshire. 1

By the 16th century, some of the family had moved to Scotland as seen by Donal Pery who was tenant of Uthircloy, Ardmanoch in 1504. 5

Early History of the Perrey family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Perrey research. Another 89 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1327, 1381, 1392, 1560, 1570, 1573, 1608, 1617, 1635, 1669, 1670, 1693, 1698, 1732, 1739, 1742, 1743, 1780 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Perrey History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Perrey Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, Anglo-Norman surnames like Perrey 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 Perrey include Perry, Perrie and others.

Early Notables of the Perrey family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Henry Perry or Parry (1560-1617), Welsh scholar, born at Greenfield, Flint, descended from Ednowain Bendew, founder of one of the fifteen tribes of North Wales. John Perry (1670-1732), was an English civil engineer and traveller, second son of Samuel Perry of Rodborough, Gloucestershire. In 1693 he superintended the repair of the Montague in Portsmouth harbour. Charles Perry (1698-1780), was an English traveller and medical writer, a younger son of John Perry, a Norwich attorney. Between 1739 and 1742 he travelled in France, Italy, and the East, visiting Constantinople, Egypt, Palestine...
Another 95 words (7 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Perrey Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Perrey Ranking

In France, the name Perrey is the 6,474^th most popular surname with an estimated 1,000 - 1,500 people with that name. 6

Migration of the Perrey family to Ireland

Some of the Perrey family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 82 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Perrey migration to the United States +

Faced 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 Perrey, or a variant listed above:

Perrey Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

George Perrey, who landed in New England in 1729 7

Perrey Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

William Perrey, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1868 7

Contemporary Notables of the name Perrey (post 1700) +

Jean-Jacques Perrey (b. 1929), French electronic music producer, member of the electronic music duo Perrey and Kingsley

The Perrey 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: Recte agens confido
Motto Translation: While acting uprightly I am confident.

Citations +

Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Burke, John Bernard, The Roll of Battle Abbey. London: Edward Churton, 26, Holles Street, 1848, Print.
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
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)