Terey History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The surname Terey is a ancient name whose history on English soil dates back to the wave of emigration that followed the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. The name comes from the Norman personal name Therry, which in turn comes from the Germanic Theodoric. 1 Edward the Confessor (c.1004-1066) employed a German goldsmith named Theoderic for some of his coinage design; so it is certainly possible that the name in Britain predates the coming of the Normans.

Early Origins of the Terey family

The surname Terey was first found in Kent where Thierry, son of Deorman of London was granted lands by Gilbert, Earl of Pembroke between 1138 and 1149. Thierry continued to be an under tenant of Richard FitzGilbert of Clare.

Some of the first listings of the name were found in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, specifically: Terry (without surname) in Yorkshire; Richard Terry in Huntingdonshire; Terricus le Alemaunde in Buckinghamshire; and Geoffrey Terri in Oxfordshire. 2

The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls had two listings: Johannes Tyrry; and Petrus Terre. "Terry is a name now also represented in Buckinghamshire and the West Riding [of Yorkshire]; and it is remarkable that, as far back as the reign of Edward I., it occurred still in Yorkshire, and also in the counties adjacent to Buckinghanshire, namely those of Oxfordshire, Northamptonshire, and Huntingdonshire. In Elizabeth's time the Terrys held the manors of Bicknor and Swanton Court; and in the same reign there lived a family of yeomen of the name in Herne, and in the time of Charles I." 3

Early History of the Terey family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Terey research. Another 107 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1172, 1190, 1555, 1590, 1615, 1616, 1625 and 1660 are included under the topic Early Terey History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Terey Spelling Variations

A multitude of spelling variations characterize Norman surnames. Many variations occurred because Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules. The introduction of Norman French to England also had a pronounced effect, as did the court languages of Latin and French. Therefore, one person was often referred to by several different spellings in a single lifetime. The various spellings include Terry, Terrie and others.

Early Notables of the Terey family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Edward Terry (1590-1660), English writer of travels, born at Leigh, near Penshurst, Kent. "In February 1615-1616, Terry went out to India as chaplain with a fleet sent by the London East India Company, sailing in the Charles with Benjamin...
Another 46 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Terey Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Terey family to Ireland

Some of the Terey family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 69 words (5 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 Terey family

Many English families left England, to avoid the chaos of their homeland and migrated to the many British colonies abroad. Although the conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and some travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute, once in the colonies, many of the families prospered and made valuable contributions to the cultures of what would become the United States and Canada. Research into the origins of individual families in North America has revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Terey or a variant listed above: Stephen Terry and Jane Hardey Terry, who came to New England in 1630, aboard the "Mary & John"; Giles Terry who settled in Virginia in 1635.

Citations +

Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
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.