Sudberray History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The Anglo-Saxon name Sudberray comes from when the family resided in one of the settlements called Sudbury in the counties of Derbyshire, Middlesex, and Suffolk. The surname Sudberray belongs to the large category of Anglo-Saxon habitation names, which are derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads.

Early Origins of the Sudberray family

The surname Sudberray was first found in Suffolk at Sudbury, a borough and market-town, and the head of a union, locally in the hundred of Babergh. "This place, originally called South Burgh, is of great antiquity, and at the period of the Norman survey was of considerable importance, having a market and a mint. A colony of the Flemings who were introduced into this country by Edward III. for the purpose of establishing the manufacture of woollen-cloth, settled here, and that branch of trade continued to flourish for some time. " 1

The Domesday Book survey in 1086 A.D. list Sudbury as being held by William the Chamberlain and Otto the Goldsmith from the King. The village consisted of a mill, a market, 2 horses, 24 pigs, and 120 sheep. It is the site of the ancient church of St. Gregory's founded by St. Felix in the 7th century. 2

One of the first records of the names was Hugh de Suthberia who was listed in the Pipe Rolls in 1159. 3 The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 list: Robert de Sudbyr in Norfolk; and Ralph de Sudebyre in Essex. 4

Simon of Sudbury (died 1381), was "Archbishop of Canterbury, son of Nigel Theobald and his wife Sarah, people of respectable position, born at Sudbury in Suffolk in the parish of St. Gregory. " 5

William Sudbury (fl. 1382), was an early English theologian, a Benedictine monk of Westminster, and graduated as doctor of divinity at Oxford, where he was an opponent in theology in 1382. 5

Early History of the Sudberray family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Sudberray research. Another 51 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1375, 1379, 1381 and 1431 are included under the topic Early Sudberray History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Sudberray Spelling Variations

The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries; therefore,spelling variations are common among early Anglo-Saxon names. As the form of the English language changed, even the spelling of literate people's names evolved. Sudberray has been recorded under many different variations, including Sudbury, Sudbery, SudBerry, Sudberey and others.

Early Notables of the Sudberray family

Another 27 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Sudberray Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Sudberray family

For many English families, the political and religious disarray that shrouded England made the far away New World an attractive prospect. On cramped disease-ridden ships, thousands migrated to those British colonies that would eventually become Canada and the United States. Those hardy settlers that survived the journey often went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Sudberray or a variant listed above: Robert Sudbery who settled in Virginia in 1638.

Citations +

Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
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)
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print