Contents [hide]

Earle History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Ireland United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Motto Suggested Reading Citations

Earle History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The name Earle belongs to the early history of Britain, it's origins lie with the Anglo-Saxons. It is a product of their having lived in the parish of Earley, in the diocese of Oxford.

Early Origins of the Earle family

The surname Earle was first found in the County of Somerset. The surname originates from a Saxon word "eorl" or "jarl" which described the elder or wise man of the village. In time the name came to mean the leader or ruler and finally, during mediaeval times it was used to signify a nobleman of the highest rank.

Later, a branch of the family was found at Axmouth in Devon. "The manor [of Axmouth] formerly belonged to the abbey of Sion, in Middlesex, and was given at the Dissolution by Henry VIII. to his queen Catharine Parr, as part of her dower; it reverted at her death to the crown, and was granted by Edward VI., in 1552, to Walter Erle." 1

"For some two centuries it has been the property of the Hallets. Stedcombe House, a seat of the Erles, was garrisoned by Sir Walter for the Parliament, but taken and burned in March, 1644, by a party of Prince Maurice's troops. The Erles then resided at Bindon, now a farmhouse, but retaining many traces of its ancient state, particularly its domestic chapel. Sir Walter Erie had been imprisoned for refusing to lend money to the King, and in revenge seized Lyme for the Parliament in 1642." 2

"The manor of Penheale, [in the parish or Egloskerry, Cornwall] extends over the whole parish, can be satisfactorily traced up to the time of Doomsday Survey. At that time it was held under Robert Earl of Moreton by Ricardus, whose son William Fitz Richard, left a daughter and sole heiress, who was married to Reginald Earl of Cornwall, natural son of Henry I." 3

"It appears from Dugdale's Monasticon, that the church of Egloshayle [in Cornwall] was given by William Earl of Gloucester to the priory of St. James in Bristol, which gift was confirmed by Edward II." 3

Early History of the Earle family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Earle research. Another 325 words (23 lines of text) covering the years 1086, 1120, 1160, 1416, 1471, 1586, 1590, 1601, 1614, 1615, 1616, 1648, 1650, 1653, 1662, 1665, 1667, 1678, 1720, 1758, 1812 and 1859 are included under the topic Early Earle History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Earle Spelling Variations

Until the dictionary, an invention of only the last few hundred years, the English language lacked any comprehensive system of spelling rules. Consequently, spelling variations in names are frequently found in early Anglo-Saxon and later Anglo-Norman documents. One person's name was often spelled several different ways over a lifetime. The recorded variations of Earle include Earl, Earle, Earll, Earlls, Erle, Irle, Urles, Urle, Erl, Earls, Earles, Earlie, Earlee, Erlegh, Erligh, Erleigh, Earleigh and many more.

Early Notables of the Earle family

Distinguished members of the family include

Erasmus Earle (1590-1667), an English lawyer and politician, Sergeant-at-law to Oliver Cromwell
Sir Walter Erle or Earle (1586-1665), an English landowner and politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1614 and 1648, an strong opponent of King Charles I in the Parliamentary cause both be...
Giles Earle (fl. 1615), an English collector of songs, and assumed poet and composer, now known for his manuscript collection "Giles Earle his Booke" dated 1615
Giles Earle (1678?-1758), an English politician for Chippenham

Earle Ranking

In the United States, the name Earle is the 3,546^th most popular surname with an estimated 7,461 people with that name. 4 However, in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Earle is ranked the 87^th most popular surname with an estimated 343 people with that name. 5

Migration of the Earle family to Ireland

Some of the Earle family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 44 words (3 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Earle migration to the United States +

Thousands of English families boarded ships sailing to the New World in the hope of escaping the unrest found in England at this time. Although the search for opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad took the lives of many because of the cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels, the opportunity perceived in the growing colonies of North America beckoned. Many of the settlers who survived the journey went on to make important contributions to the transplanted cultures of their adopted countries. The Earle were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records:

Earle Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Christopher Earle, who settled in Virginia in 1633
Ralph Earle, who landed in Boston, Massachusetts in 1634 6
George Earle, who landed in Virginia in 1637 6
Ralph Earle, who settled in Rhode Island in 1638
Sir John Earle, who landed in Virginia in 1649-1652 6
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Earle Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Eliza Earle, who arrived in Virginia in 1701 6
Richard Earle, who arrived in Virginia in 1703 6
Thomas Earle, who landed in Georgia in 1733 6
Daniel Earle, who arrived in North Carolina in 1756 6

Earle Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Bernard Earle, who arrived in New York, NY in 1847 6
Silas Earle, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1850 6
E M Earle, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1851 6
Maria Earle, aged 21, who landed in New York in 1854 6
Thomas Earle, aged 29, who landed in New York in 1854 6
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Earle migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Earle Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Capt. Edward Earle U.E. born in New Jersey, USA who settled in Grand Lake, Queens County, New Brunswick c. 1784 he served in the New Jersey Volunteers 3rd Battalion 7

Earle migration to Australia +

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

Earle Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. John Earle, (b. 1777), aged 26, British farm labourer who was convicted in Somerset, England for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Calcutta" in February 1803, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1840 8
Mr. Henry Earle, (b. 1797), aged 35 who was convicted in Somerset, England for life, transported aboard the "Circassian" on 4th November 1832, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 9
Mr. William Earle, English convict who was convicted in Surrey, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Enchantress"on 6th April 1833, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 10
Charles Harvey Earle, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "D'Auvergne" in 1839 11
Angeline Earle, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "D'Auvergne" in 1839 11
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Earle 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:

Earle Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

George Earle, who landed in Nelson, New Zealand in 1842
Percy Earle, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1842
Mr. Edward Earle, British settler as part of the 8th Detachment of the Royal New Zealand Fencibles travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Oriental Queen" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 18th September 1849 12
Mrs. Catherine Earle née Dunn, British settler travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Oriental Queen" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 18th September 1849 12
Mr. James W. Earle, British surgeon-superintendent travelling from London aboard the ship "Randolph" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand in September 1850 12
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Earle (post 1700) +

Justin Townes Earle (1982-2020), American singer-songwriter and musician, son of country artist Steve Earle
William A. Earle (1919-1988), twentieth-century American philosopher
Thomas Earle (1796-1849), American journalist, lawyer, and politician
Pliny Earle I (1762-1832), American inventor of wool and cotton carding machines
Sylvia Alice Earle (b. 1935), American oceanographer
Stephen Fain "Steve" Earle (b. 1955), American singer-songwriter
Ralph Earle Jr. (1908-1995), American biblical scholar
Jack Rheuben Earle (1906-1952), American silent film actor and sideshow performer with Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus
John Milton Earle (1794-1874), American businessman, abolitionist, and statesman
John Earle (b. 1968), American NFL and CFL football player
... (Another 51 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Earle family +

Halifax Explosion

Mr. Bertram John Earle (1878-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 13

USS Arizona

Mr. John H. Earle Jr., American Captain working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he survived the sinking 14

The Earle 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: Ne Tentes Aut Perfice
Motto Translation: Attempt not or accomplish.

Citations +

Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Worth, R.N., A History of Devonshire London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, E.G., 1895. Digital
Hutchins, Fortescue, The History of Cornwall, from the Earliest Records and Traditions to the Present Time. London: William Penaluna, 1824. Print
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
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)
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 25th November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/calcutta
Convict Records of Australia. Retrieved 8th February 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/circassian
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 20th April 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/enchantress
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) D'AUVERGNE 1839. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1839D'Auvergne.htm
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
Halifax Explosion Book of Remembrance | Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. (Retrieved 2014, June 23) . Retrieved from https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/halifax-explosion/halifax-explosion-book-remembrance
Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html