Show ContentsSherley History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Sherley is an old Anglo-Saxon name. It comes from when a family lived in the parish of Shirley found in the counties of Derbyshire, Surrey Hampshire and the West Midlands.

Early Origins of the Sherley family

The surname Sherley was first found in Derbyshire at Shirley, a parish, in the hundred of Appletree. "Shirley is so called from the Saxon, signifying 'a clear place or pasture;' and gives name to a family which has for ages been considered one of the most honourable in the county. Part of the lands still belong to the Shirleys, who are now represented by Earl Ferrers. The ancient Hall, now converted into a farmhouse, still retains features of its original character; and the moat by which it was surrounded is yet remaining. " [1]

Also in the early history of the family, the hamlet of Hopewell in Derbyshire was of great significance. "The manor of 'Opewelle' was held by Ralph Fitz-Hubert, under the Bishop of Chester, at the time of the Domesday survey; in 1296 it was held by Ralph de Shirley, under the Earl of Lancaster." [1]

Some of the family ventured to Herefordshire where they held Shurley Manor for centuries. Another branch was found at Staunton-Harrold in Leicestershire. The manor was passed to the Shirleys by marriage with the Staunton family, in 1423 and became property of Robert Shirley, 13th Baron Ferrers of Chartley, the first Earl Ferrers. That branch claim descent from George Shirley (died 1622) of Astwell Castle, Northamptonshire. Next we must explore Wiston in Sussex as that was the family seat of another branch of the family. "Wiston House, a mansion in the Elizabethan style, erected by Sir Thomas Shirley about 1576, has been taken down and rebuilt by the present proprietor. The church, situated in the park, is chiefly in the decorated style, and consists of a nave, chancel, and south aisle, at the east end of which is a sepulchral chapel; there are monuments to Sir William Shirley, Sir Thomas Shirley and his wife." [1]

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. William de Schirle was listed in the Assize Rolls for Yorkshire in 1219; Ralph de Shirleye in the Feet of Fines for Warwickshire in 1318; and William Shirley in the Feet of Fines for Surrey in 1442. [2]

The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 include: Johannes de Scherlay; and Willelmus de Scherlay as holding lands there at that time. [3]

The Register of the University of Oxford included: George Shyrlye, Leicestershire, 1573; Anthony Sherlye, Sussex, 1579; and John Shurley, Sussex, 1582.

"A family of Shirley possessed large estates in Hanbury, Staffordshire, in the 16th century. The Shirleys of Eatington, Warwickshire, have an ancient pedigree. There were also old distinguished families of the name in Leicestershire." [4]

Early History of the Sherley family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Sherley research. Another 217 words (16 lines of text) covering the years 1050, 1366, 1456, 1527, 1542, 1565, 1568, 1569, 1581, 1589, 1596, 1603, 1612, 1624, 1625, 1628, 1631, 1635, 1641, 1647, 1650, 1654, 1656, 1666, 1683, 1685, 1686, 1687, 1694, 1717, 1741, 1749, 1753, 1756, 1760 and 1771 are included under the topic Early Sherley History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Sherley Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years, the English language had no fast system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations are commonly found in early Anglo-Saxon surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Sherley were recorded, including Shirley, Shurley, Sherley, Shirleigh and others.

Early Notables of the Sherley family

Notables of this surname at this time include:

  • Sir Anthony Shirley (or Sherley) (1565-1635), an English traveler, whose imprisonment in 1603 by King James I caused the British House of Commons to assert one of its privileges-freedom of its members...
  • James Shirley (or Sherley) (1596-1666), an English dramatist from London

Ireland Migration of the Sherley family to Ireland

Some of the Sherley family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 84 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Sherley migration to the United States +

To escape oppression and starvation at that time, many English families left for the "open frontiers" of the New World with all its perceived opportunities. In droves people migrated to the many British colonies, those in North America in particular, paying high rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Although many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, those who did see the shores of North America perceived great opportunities before them. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Research into various historical records revealed some of first members of the Sherley family emigrate to North America:

Sherley Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Daniell Sherley, aged 30, who arrived in Virginia in 1619 aboard the ship "Bona Nova" [5]
  • Ensigne Sherley, who arrived in Virginia in 1622 [5]
  • Lidia Sherley, who landed in Virginia in 1623 aboard the ship "George", died in 1624 [5]
  • Mr. Robert Sherley, (Shoreley, Sherbys), English servant arrived in Maryland in 1634 aboard the ship "Ark and Dove" [5]
  • Jane Sherley, who arrived in Virginia in 1662 [5]
Sherley Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • William Sherley, who landed in Virginia in 1717 [5]

Contemporary Notables of the name Sherley (post 1700) +

  • Ms. Sherley Forde B.E.M., British Catering Assistant for Cabinet Office, was appointed Medallist of the British Empire Medal 29th December 2018 for public service [6]
  • Sherley Burns Wellman, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Kentucky, 1928 [7]


The Sherley 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: Honor virtutis praemium
Motto Translation: Honor is the reward of virtue.


  1. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  2. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  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)
  4. Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
  5. 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)
  6. "Birthday and New Year Honours Lists (1940 to 2019)." Issue 62507, 28 December 2018 | London Gazette, The Gazette, Dec. 2018, www.thegazette.co.uk/honours-lists
  7. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 8) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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