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Show ContentsBerry History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
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Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

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The Norman Conquest of England in 1066 added many new elements to an already vibrant culture. Among these were thousands of new names. The Berry family lived in the county of Devon, where the family settled after arriving in England with William the Conqueror at the time of the Norman Conquest of England. The name is derived from the phrase at the Bury which has evolved to the more modern term borough.

Early Origins of the Berry family

The surname Berry was first found in Devon, in the parish of Berry-Pomeroy and before that Berry or Berri was the appellation of one of the old provinces of France. 1 2 Another source notes "scattered disconnectedly over England. It is most numerous in Lancashire, and afterwards in the counties of Northampton, Warwick, and Devon. Probably it is usually derived from places, Berry being the name of a Devonshire parish, whilst Bury is the name of towns and localities in Lancashire, Suffolk, etc." 3

Early History of the Berry family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Berry research. Another 75 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1450, 1635, 1636, 1675, 1690, 1691, 1781, 1873 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Berry History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Berry Spelling Variations

Norman surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. The frequent changes in surnames are largely due to the fact that the Old and Middle English languages lacked definite spelling rules. The introduction of Norman French to England, as well as the official court languages of Latin and French, also had pronounced influences on the spelling of surnames. Since medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, rather than adhering to any specific spelling rules, it was common to find the same individual referred to with different spellings. The name has been spelled Berry, Bery, Berey, De Berry and others.

Early Notables of the Berry family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

  • John Berry, High Sheriff of Herefordshire in 1450; Sir Thomas Berry of Buckland; Alexander Berry (1781-1873), Scottish surgeon, merchant, and explorer after whom the Australian town is named; Sir John...
  • On the more infamous side, it is claimed that Charlotte de Berry (born 1636) was an English female pirate captain active in the Caribbean Sea. However, she may have been fictional. One story claims th...

Berry World Ranking

In the United States, the name Berry is the 168th most popular surname with an estimated 139,272 people with that name. 4 However, in Canada, the name Berry is ranked the 524th most popular surname with an estimated 9,350 people with that name. 5 And in France, the name Berry is the 955th popular surname with an estimated 5,485 people with that name. 6 Australia ranks Berry as 206th with 16,133 people. 7 New Zealand ranks Berry as 222nd with 2,575 people. 8 The United Kingdom ranks Berry as 167th with 32,292 people. 9

Ireland Migration of the Berry family to Ireland

Some of the Berry family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 66 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

United States Berry migration to the United States +

Many English families emigrated to North American colonies in order to escape the political chaos in Britain at this time. Unfortunately, many English families made the trip to the New World under extremely harsh conditions. Overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the stormy Atlantic. Despite these hardships, many of the families prospered and went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the United States and Canada. Early North American immigration records have revealed a number of people bearing the name Berry or a variant listed above:

Berry Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Zeeheriah Berry, who arrived in America in 1620 10
  • John Berry who settled in Virginia in 1626
  • William Berry, aged 17, who arrived in Virginia in 1635 aboard the ship "Paul" 10
  • Richard Berry, aged 23, who landed in Virginia in 1635 aboard the ship "Thomas & John" 10
  • Elizabeth Berry who settled in Virginia in 1636
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Berry Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Phill Berry, who arrived in Virginia in 1700 10
  • Anne Berry, who landed in Virginia in 1701 10
  • Margaret Berry, who arrived in Virginia in 1702 10
  • Dowland Berry, who arrived in Virginia in 1703 10
  • Richard Berry, who arrived in Virginia in 1704 10
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Berry Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • John Berry, who arrived in America in 1811 10
  • Godfrey Berry, aged 32, who landed in New York in 1812 10
  • Michael Berry, who arrived in New York, NY in 1816 10
  • Francis Berry, who arrived in New York, NY in 1816 10
  • Joseph Berry, who arrived in New York, NY in 1817 10
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada Berry migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Berry Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • William Berry, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1749
  • John Berry, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1750
  • Go Berry, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1750
  • Timothy Berry, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1750
  • Patrick Berry, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1775
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Berry Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • John Berry, who landed in Canada in 1817
  • John Berry, aged 26, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Eweretta" in 1833
  • James Berry, aged 22, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Leslie Gault" in 1834
  • Patrick Berry, aged 24, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the ship "Edwin" from Dublin, Ireland
  • Elizbeth Berry, who emigrated from Ireland to Quebec in 1835
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Australia Berry migration to Australia +

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

Berry Settlers in Australia in the 18th Century
  • Miss Mary Berry, English convict who was convicted in Liverpool, Merseyside, England for 7 years , transported aboard the "Britannia III" on 18th July 1798, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 11
Berry Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. William Berry, British Convict who was convicted in Sussex, England for life, transported aboard the "Earl Spencer" in May 1813, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 12
  • Mr. Michael Berry, English convict who was convicted in London, England for life, transported aboard the "Baring" in April 1815, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 13
  • Mr. Thomas Berry, English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Elizabeth" in May 1816, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 14
  • Mr. Robert Berry, (Houseley), British Convict who was convicted in West Riding, Yorkshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Batavia" in October 1817, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 15
  • Mr. Benjamin Berry, British Convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for life, transported aboard the "Coromandel" on 27th October 1819, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 16
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Berry 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:

Berry Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Rebecca Berry, who landed in Bay of Islands, New Zealand in 1837 aboard the ship Venturess
  • Percival Berry, who landed in Auckland, New Zealand in 1840
  • Frederick Thomas Berry, aged 22, a carpenter, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "London" in 1840
  • Elizabeth Jane Berry, aged 20, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "London" in 1840
  • Thomas Richard Berry, aged 25, a farm labourer, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Fifeshire" in 1842 17
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Berry (post 1700) +

  • Conrid Clyde Berry (1931-2023), American football, baseball player and head football coach at Henderson State College (now known as Henderson State University)
  • Marion Berry (1942-2023), born Robert Marion Berry, an American politician, U.S. Representative for Arkansas (1997-2011)
  • Robert Chadwick "Bob" Berry (1942-2023), American NFL professional football quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings (1965–1967) and (1973–1976) and the Atlanta Falcons (1968–1972)
  • Richard Berry (1935-1997), American singer and songwriter
  • Charles Edward Anderson "Chuck" Berry (1926-2017), iconic and influential American guitarist, singer and songwriter, 2014 Polar Music Prize laureate
  • Dennis Charles Berry (1944-2021), American-French film director, actor, and screenwriter, son of director John Berry
  • Kenneth Ronald "Ken" Berry (1933-2018), American sitcom actor, dancer and singer, known for his roles in F Troop, The Andy Griffith Show and more
  • Frederick E. Berry (1949-2018), American Democratic Party politician, Elected Massachusetts State Senate Second Essex District 2002, Majority Leader of the Massachusetts Senate (2003-2013) 18
  • Cornelius John "Neil" Berry (1922-2016), American Major League Baseball infielder who played from 1948 to 1954
  • John Berry (1963-2016), American hardcore punk musician, founding member of the Beastie Boys
  • ... (Another 199 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Empress of Ireland
  • Miss Ethel de la Tour Berry (1894-1914), Canadian Second Class Passenger from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada who was traveling aboard the Empress of Ireland and died in the sinking 19
  • Mr. Daniel Berry (1890-1914), American Third Class Passenger from Springfield, Illinois, United States who was traveling aboard the Empress of Ireland and died in the sinking 19
HMS Prince of Wales
  • Mr. Donald Ridge Berry, British Signal Boy, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and died in the sinking 20
HMS Repulse
  • Mr. Kenneth Pearson Berry, British Stoker 1st Class, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and died in the sinking 21
  • Mr. Richard Martin Berry, British Marine, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and died in the sinking 21
Senghenydd colliery
  • Mr. Walter Berry (b. 1886), Welsh coal miner from Abertridwr, Caerphilly, Wales who was working at the Senghenydd colliery when there was an explosion on the 14th October 1913; he died
SS Caribou
  • Mr. Charles Berry (b. 1899), American passenger from Mount Vernon, New York was travelling aboard the railway ferry "SS Caribou" when it was struck by a German submarine torpedo on 14th October 1942, the most significant sinking in Canadian waters at that time, he died in the sinking
St. Francis Dam
  • Mr. Harley Sylvester Berry, American resident in Santa Clarita killed when the St. Francis Dam failed and flooded the area in 1928
  • Mrs. OraMae Beverly Sheppardson Berry, (nee Pratt), American resident in Santa Clarita killed when the St. Francis Dam failed and flooded the area in 1928
USS Arizona
  • Mr. James Winford Berry, American Fireman Second Class from Ohio, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 22
  • Mr. Gordon Eugene Berry, American Fireman Second Class from Colorado, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 22

The Berry 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: Nihil sine labore
Motto Translation: Nothing without labour.

Suggested Readings for the name Berry +

  • Berry and Related Families by Louis Ansel Duermyer.
  • Berry-Berrey Family: The Family of Elijah Berry, Virginia, Georgia, Alabama, and Texas, 1700-1980 by Lynn Berry Hamilton.
  1. Charnock, Richard, Stephen, Ludus Patronymicus of The Etymology of Curious Surnames. London: Trubner & Co., 60 Paternoster Row, 1868. Print.
  2. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  3. Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
  4. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  5. "Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
  6. http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
  7. "Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
  8. "Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
  9. "UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
  10. 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)
  11. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 30th October 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/Britannia
  12. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 8th September 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-spencer
  13. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/baring
  14. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 1st March 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/elizabeth
  15. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 30th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/batavia
  16. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 12th March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/coromandel
  17. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 4th November 2011). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  18. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 24) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  19. Commemoration Empress of Ireland 2014. (Retrieved 2014, June 16) . Retrieved from http://www.empress2014.ca/seclangen/listepsc1.html
  20. HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html
  21. HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html
  22. Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html
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