Show ContentsTirie History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The surname Tirie 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 Tirie family

The surname Tirie 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 Tirie family

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

Tirie Spelling Variations

Multitudes of spelling variations are a hallmark of Anglo Norman names. Most of these names evolved in the 11th and 12th century, in the time after the Normans introduced their own Norman French language into a country where Old and Middle English had no spelling rules and the languages of the court were French and Latin. To make matters worse, medieval scribes spelled words according to sound, so names frequently appeared differently in the various documents in which they were recorded. The name was spelled Terry, Terrie and others.

Early Notables of the Tirie 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 Tirie Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Tirie family to Ireland

Some of the Tirie 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 Tirie family

Because of this political and religious unrest within English society, many people decided to immigrate to the colonies. Families left for Ireland, North America, and Australia in enormous numbers, traveling at high cost in extremely inhospitable conditions. The New World in particular was a desirable destination, but the long voyage caused many to arrive sick and starving. Those who made it, though, were welcomed by opportunities far greater than they had known at home in England. Many of these families went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Tirie 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.



  1. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  2. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  3. Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.


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