Show ContentsJaffarey History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Jaffarey family

The surname Jaffarey was first found in Aberdeen where "Jaffray was an old family name." Early feudal rolls provided the king of the time a method of cataloguing holdings for taxation, but today they provide a glimpse into the wide surname spellings in use at that time. "Symon le fiz Geffrai and Piers le fiz Geffray, burgesses of Peebles, rendered homage [to King Edward I of England] in 1296. Payment was made to David Geoffrey, Scottish merchant, for injuries and trespasses committed on him in 1474, John Joffray appears as witness, 1511, and a later John Jofra was witness in Brechin in 1552." 1

Early History of the Jaffarey family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Jaffarey research. Another 211 words (15 lines of text) covering the years 1536, 1583, 1587, 1596, 1605, 1613, 1614, 1618, 1629, 1632, 1633, 1634, 1635, 1636, 1642, 1643, 1644, 1645, 1652, 1653, 1673, 1687, 1718 and 1753 are included under the topic Early Jaffarey History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Jaffarey Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Jaffray, Jaffrey, Jafery and others.

Early Notables of the Jaffarey family

Notable amongst the family at this time was Alexander Jaffray (1614-1673), Director of the Chancellary of Scotland and a Quaker, son of Alexander Jaffray (d. 10 Jan. 1645), Provost of Aberdeen, by his wife Magdalen Erskine of Pittodrie, born at Aberdeen in July 1614. "Shortly after his marriage his father sent him to Edinburgh, where he stayed some time in the house of his relative Robert Burnet, father of Gilbert Burnet [q. v.] His father sent him in 1632 and 1633 to London, and in 1634 and 1635 to France. At Whitsuntide 1636 he set up housekeeping in Aberdeen, his wife...
Another 142 words (10 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Jaffarey Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Jaffarey family

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: George Jaffray of Kincardine who settled in New Hampshire and became Speaker of the Assembly in New Hampshire in 1707; Lewis Jaffray settled in New England in 1774.



The Jaffarey 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: Post nubillia phoebus
Motto Translation: After the clouds sunshine.


  1. 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)


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