Contents [hide]

Peery History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Motto Citations

Peery History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Italy
Ireland
Scotland

Peery is a name that was brought to England by the ancestors of the Peery family when they migrated to the region after the Norman Conquest in 1066. The Peery family lived in Hampshire. Their name, however, is a reference to the Old English word perie, meaning pear tree, and indicates that the original bearer of the name lived near such a landmark. 1 "A branch came to England [in] 1066, and Matilda de Perer was mother of Hugo Parcarius, who lived temp Henry I." 2

Early Origins of the Peery family

The surname Peery was first found in Hampshire where they were originally descended from Norman Perree who was granted lands in Hampshire and recorded in the Domesday Book in 1086 as a tenant in chief 3, the name also appeared on the Roll of Battell Abbey. 4

From this earliest record, the family moved throughout Britain. Henry de Peri (de Piri) was listed in the Pipe Rolls of Staffordshire in 1176 and then in the Assize Rolls of Staffordshire in 1199. Richard Pirie was listed in the Pipe Rolls of Kent in 1198 and William de la Purie was listed in the Assize Rolls of Somerset in 1243.

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 list: Walter atte-Pyrie in Oxfordshire; Roger de la Peyre in Cambridgeshire; and Richard de la Pirie in Oxfordshire. 1

By the 16th century, some of the family had moved to Scotland as seen by Donal Pery who was tenant of Uthircloy, Ardmanoch in 1504. 5

Early History of the Peery family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Peery research. Another 89 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1327, 1381, 1392, 1560, 1570, 1573, 1608, 1617, 1635, 1669, 1670, 1693, 1698, 1732, 1739, 1742, 1743, 1780 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Peery History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Peery Spelling Variations

Spelling variations in names were a common occurrence in the eras before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate regularly changed the spellings of their names as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Peery have been found, including Perry, Perrie and others.

Early Notables of the Peery family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Henry Perry or Parry (1560-1617), Welsh scholar, born at Greenfield, Flint, descended from Ednowain Bendew, founder of one of the fifteen tribes of North Wales.John Perry (1670-1732), was an English civil engineer and traveller, second son of Samuel Perry of Rodborough, Gloucestershire. In 1693 he superintended the repair of the Montague in Portsmouth harbour.Charles Perry (1698-1780), was an English traveller and medical writer, a younger son of John Perry, a Norwich attorney. Between 1739 and 1742 he travelled in France, Italy, and the East, visiting Constantinople, Egypt, Palestine...
Another 95 words (7 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Peery Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Peery Ranking

In the United States, the name Peery is the 7,310^th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 6

Migration of the Peery family to Ireland

Some of the Peery family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 82 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Peery migration to the United States +

For many English families, the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. For such families, the shores of Ireland, Australia, and the New World beckoned. They left their homeland at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. Many arrived after the long voyage sick, starving, and without a penny. But even those were greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. Numerous English settlers who arrived in the United States and Canada at this time went on to make important contributions to the developing cultures of those countries. Many of those families went on to make significant contributions to the rapidly developing colonies in which they settled. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Peery were among those contributors:

Peery Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

? Peery, aged 60, originally from London, arrived in New York in 1892 aboard the ship "Germanic" from Liverpool & Queenstown 7
Loha Peery, aged 32, arrived in New York in 1894 aboard the ship "Scandia" from Hamburg via Havre 7

Peery Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Bessie E. Peery, aged 40, arrived in New York in 1904 aboard the ship "Umbria" from Liverpool, England 7
Jennie June Peery, aged 30, arrived in New York in 1908 aboard the ship "Teutonic" from Southampton, England 7
William K. Peery, aged 21, arrived in New York in 1918 aboard the ship "Paloma" from Nuevitas, Cuba 7
James Peery, aged 51, arrived in New York in 1919 aboard the ship "Battahatchee" from Rotterdam, Netherlands 7

Contemporary Notables of the name Peery (post 1700) +

Nelson Peery (1923-2015), American political activist and author
William Peery (1743-1800), American farmer, lawyer, and politician, member of the Delaware General Assembly
Janet Peery (b. 1948), American short story writer and novelist
George C. Peery (1873-1952), American Democratic politician, 52nd Governor of Virginia from 1934 to 1938
William H. Peery, American Democratic Party politician, Member of West Virginia State House of Delegates from Berkeley County, 1933-34; Defeated, 1942; Mayor of Martinsburg, West Virginia, 1955-59 8
William Peery (d. 1800), American politician, Member of Delaware State House of Representatives, 1782-84, 1787, 1793-94; Delegate to Continental Congress from Delaware, 1786 8
Walter H. Peery, American Republican politician, Kansas State Treasurer, 1961-73 8
Gordon E. Peery, American Republican politician, First Selectman of Madison, Connecticut, 1954-57 8
George Campbell Peery (1873-1952), American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Virginia, 1920, 1924; U.S. Representative from Virginia 9th District, 1923-29; Governor of Virginia, 1934-38 8
Frank C. Peery, American Democratic Party politician, Mayor of Brookfield, Missouri, 1965 8
... (Another 1 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Peery family +

USS Arizona

Mr. Max Valdyne Peery, American Seaman Second Class from California, 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 9

The Peery 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: Recte agens confido
Motto Translation: While acting uprightly I am confident.

Citations +

Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
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)
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Burke, John Bernard, The Roll of Battle Abbey. London: Edward Churton, 26, Holles Street, 1848, 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)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
Ellis Island Search retrieved 15th November 2022. Retrieved from https://heritage.statueofliberty.org/passenger-result
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 4) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html