Drueray History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

Drueray is a name of ancient Norman origin. It arrived in England with the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Drueray family lived in Suffolk. This family was originally from Rouvray, Normandy, and it is from the local form of this place-name, De Rouvray, which literally translates as from Rouvray. 1

In the language of Chaucer, signifies love or courtship: “Of bataille and of chevalrie, Of ladies love and druerie Anon I wol you tell.”

Early Origins of the Drueray family

The surname Drueray was first found in Suffolk where John de Drury, son and heir of a Norman adventurer settled at Thurston. 2

"The founder of the family in England is mentioned in the Battel-Abbey Boll. He settled first at Thurston and subsequently at Rougham, co. Suffolk, and his descendants Continued in possession of that estate for about six hundred years." 3

"John de Drury, son and heir of the Norman adventurer, settled at Thurston, in Suffolk, and bore for arms "arg, on a chief vert, two mullets pierced or." His descendant Nicholas Drury, of Thurston, living temp. Edward II., married Joane, daughter and heir of Sir Simon Saxham, Knt., and by her had Roger, Nicholas, and John, from which three brothers derived the Drurys of Rougham, Saxham, Hawsted, Egerly, Riddlesworth, Besthorp, Everstone, &c. The founder of the Riddlesworth branch, was Sir Drue Drury, Gentleman Usher of the Privy Chamber to Queen Elizabeth, and one of the keepers of Queen Mary of Scotland." 2

"Drury, Drewry, or Drewery, is an ancient Lincolnshire name. As Drury, and occasionally as Drewery and Druery, it was established in this county and in the adjacent counties of York and Cambridge in the 13th century." 4

Early History of the Drueray family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Drueray research. Another 133 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1066, 1527, 1531, 1536, 1567, 1579, 1587, 1589, 1607, 1614, 1617, 1623, 1624, 1627, 1641 and 1739 are included under the topic Early Drueray History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Drueray Spelling Variations

Endless spelling variations are a prevailing characteristic of Norman surnames. Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules, and the introduction of Norman French added an unfamiliar ingredient to the English linguistic stew. French and Latin, the languages of the court, also influenced spellings. Finally, Medieval scribes generally spelled words according to how they sounded, so one person was often referred to by different spellings in different documents. The name has been spelled Drury, Drewery, Drewry, Drurie, Drewrie and others.

Early Notables of the Drueray family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Sir Dru or Druie, Drury (1531?-1617), an English courtier, the fifth but third surviving son of Sir Robert Drury, knt., of Hedgerley, Buckinghamshire. 5 Sir Robret Drury (d. 1536), was Speaker of the House of Commons, eldest son of Roger Drury, Lord of the Manor of Hawsted, Suffolk. Robert Drury (1567-1607), was a Catholic divine, born of a gentleman's family in Buckinghamshire in 1567. Sir William Drury (1527-1579), was Marshal of Berwick and Lord Justice to...
Another 84 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Drueray Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Drueray family to Ireland

Some of the Drueray family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Drueray family

To escape the political and religious persecution within England at the time, many English families left for the various British colonies abroad. The voyage was extremely difficult, though, and the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving. But for those who made it, the trip was most often worth it. Many of the families who arrived went on to make valuable contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families reveals a number of immigrants bearing the name Drueray or a variant listed above: Robert Drewrie settled in Virginia in 1635; Abigail Drewery settled in Virginia in 1639; Robert Drewry settled in Virginia in 1638; Elizabeth Drury settled in Virginia in 1653.

The Drueray 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: Cave ut comprehendas
Motto Translation: Be careful to include

Citations +

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)
Burke, John Bernard, The Roll of Battle Abbey. London: Edward Churton, 26, Holles Street, 1848, Print.
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print