Virnay History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The illustrious name Virnay dates back to before the Norman Conquest when the held lands in "Vernai, a parish in the arrondissement of Bayeux, [France and was later] Latinized in charters, temp. Hen. I., as Vernacum." 1

Many of the family arrived in England after the Conquest but not all as "Wigen de Verigny, or De Verincio, and Walter de Verney [were listed in] Normandy 1180-95 (Magni Rotuli Scaccarii Normanniae); also in 1198." 2

This last author continues: "Philippus Vernei 1195. Vernai was near Bayeux, Normandy. Gerelinus de Vernai c. 1080 granted lands to St. Peter Conches (Gall. Christ. xi. 132, Instr.); and Ralph de Vernai about the same time held, jointly with Ralph de Toeni, lands at Bois-Raillate. Walter de Vernai occurs in Cambridge [England in ] 1158." 2

"In our 13th-cent. rolls we find the forms (with prefixed de) Verney, Vernay, and Vernai. Vernay or Verney is naturally not an uncommon place-name in France." 3

Early Origins of the Virnay family

The surname Virnay was first found in Gloucestershire where Robert de Vernai was listed in the Assize Rolls of 1221. 4

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 included entries for: Lucya de Vernai, Oxfordshire; Simon de Vernay, Northamptonshire; and Ralph de Verney, Oxfordshire. 5

Early History of the Virnay family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Virnay research. Another 136 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1419, 1465, 1478, 1563, 1584, 1586, 1590, 1599, 1613, 1615, 1616, 1620, 1630, 1640, 1642, 1648, 1649, 1661, 1668, 1696 and 1717 are included under the topic Early Virnay History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Virnay 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 Varney, Verney and others.

Early Notables of the Virnay family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Sir Ralph Verney (d. 1478), Lord Mayor of London in 1465; Sir Richard Verney (1563-1630), an English landowner and politician; Greville Verney, 7th Baron Willoughby de Broke and de jure 15th Baron Latimer (1586-1642), an English politician; Greville Verney, 8th Baron Willoughby de Broke and de jure 16th Baron Latimer (ca. 1620-1648), an English peer; Sir Ralph Verney (1613-1696), created 1st Baronet Verney of Middle Claydon in 1661; Greville Verney, 9th Baron Willoughby de Broke and de jure 17th Baron Latimer (1649-1668), an English peer; and...
Another 94 words (7 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Virnay Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Virnay family to Ireland

Some of the Virnay family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Virnay 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 Virnay or a variant listed above: William Verney, a bonded passenger who came to America in 1773; John Verney, who was on record in the census of Ontario of 1871; E. Varney, who settled in Belfast, Maine, in 1822.

The Virnay 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: Ung tout seul
Motto Translation: Only one.

Citations +

Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. 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)