Shorley History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The ancient roots of the Shorley family name are in the Anglo-Saxon culture. The name Shorley comes from when the family lived in the parish of Shirley found in the counties of Derbyshire, Surrey Hampshire and the West Midlands.

Early Origins of the Shorley family

The surname Shorley 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 Shorley family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Shorley 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 Shorley History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Shorley Spelling Variations

One relatively recent invention that did much to standardize English spelling was the printing press. However, before its invention even the most literate people recorded their names according to sound rather than spelling. The spelling variations under which the name Shorley has appeared include Shirley, Shurley, Sherley, Shirleigh and others.

Early Notables of the Shorley family

Notables of this surname at this time include: John Shirley (1366?-1456), the English translator and transcriber, said to have been the son of a squire who had travelled widely in foreign countries; Sir John Shurley (died 1527), an English noble who held the financial office of Cofferer to the King during the reign of Henry VIII; Sir John Shurley (1568-1631) was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons for Sussex in 1625; Major General Thomas Shirley, Governor of the Leeward Islands; Sir Thomas Shirley (1542-1612), of Wiston in Sussex, an English Member of Parliament and government official; Sir...
Another 140 words (10 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Shorley Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Shorley family to Ireland

Some of the Shorley 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.

Migration of the Shorley family

At this time, the shores of the New World beckoned many English families that felt that the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. Thousands left England at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. A great portion of these settlers never survived the journey and even a greater number arrived sick, starving, and without a penny. The survivors, however, were often greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. These English settlers made significant contributions to those colonies that would eventually become the United States and Canada. An examination of early immigration records and passenger ship lists revealed that people bearing the name Shorley arrived in North America very early: Robert Sherly settled in Maryland in 1633; Mary Shirley settled in New England in 1744; William Shirley settled in Boston, Massachusetts in 1740; he was of the Wiston, Sussex branch..

The Shorley 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.

Citations +

Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.