Charleray History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The ancient Anglo-Saxon surname Charleray came from Carl, derived from the personal name which means man. Alternatively, the name could have been derived from the German (Saxon) word "carl" meaning "strong, stout, courageous, and valiant." 1 "It is rarely found as a forename before the reign of Charles I.' 2

Early Origins of the Charleray family

The surname Charleray was first found in Suffolk where Edward Charles was recorded the 1273. The same Hundredorum Rolls also included Charles (without surname), Kent; William Charle, Norfolk; Alan Charle, Cambridgeshire; Ida Carle, Cambridgeshire; Ralph Carles, Cambridgeshire; and William Carolus, Norfolk. 3

Early History of the Charleray family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Charleray research. Another 150 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1208, 1253, 1482, 1550, 1569, 1613, 1688 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Charleray History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Charleray Spelling Variations

Sound was what guided spelling in the essentially pre-literate Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Also, before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Therefore, spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Charleray family name include Charles, Carles, St. Charles and others.

Early Notables of the Charleray family

Notables of this surname at this time include: Nicholas Charles or Carles (d. 1613), English herald, stated by Noble to have been son of a London butcher named George Carles, and grandson of Richard...
Another 34 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Charleray Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Charleray family to Ireland

Some of the Charleray family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 50 words (4 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 Charleray family

For political, religious, and economic reasons, thousands of English families boarded ships for Ireland, the Canadas, the America colonies, and many of smaller tropical colonies in the hope of finding better lives abroad. Although the passage on the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving, those families that survived the trip often went on to make valuable contributions to those new societies to which they arrived. Early immigrants bearing the Charleray surname or a spelling variation of the name include: the family who settled at Brimfield, Massachusetts, about the year 1640. Dorothie Charles settled in Virginia in 1635; and Evan Charles settled in Antigua in 1679. John Charles settled in Virginia in 1634.

The Charleray 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: Virtus auget honores
Motto Translation: Virtue increases honour.

Citations +

Arthur, William , An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. London: 1857. 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)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)