Aires History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Scotland
Ireland

The name Aires has a history dating as far back as the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. It was a name for a person who was well-known as the heir to a title, fortune, or estate. The name is thought to be derived from the Old French eir, which is itself derived from the Latin heres, meaning "heir."

Early Origins of the Aires family

The surname Aires was first found in Derbyshire, where the ancestral home of the main branch of the Aires family is thought to be located. Early written records of the name Aires have been found in many counties, notably Derbyshire, Wiltshire, and Shropshire.

In the early legends of the Eyre family, it was recounted that a Knight named Eyre who fought with Richard the Lionheart at the Battle of Ascalon during the Crusades lost a leg while defending his King, which is why the family still bears a booted leg in its crest.

Another source, mentions that the traditional origin of the name was in circumstance of a Norman knight having at the Battle of Hastings succoured (helped) duke William of Normandy and given him air when he was in danger of suffocation. [1]

"The Eyres appear as witnesses to charters in the Peak of Derbyshire in the remotest period to which private charters ascend. The first of the name known is William le Eyre, of Hope, in the reign of Henry III." [2]

The chapel in Great Longstone, Derbyshire contains monuments to the "family of Eyre, earls of Newburgh." [3]

Early History of the Aires family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Aires research. Another 112 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1216, 1582, 1657, 1635, 1628, 1678, 1659, 1678, 1635, 1695, 1660, 1661, 1689, 1638, 1698, 1666, 1735, 1680, 1700, 1689, 1693, 1638, 1712, 1665, 1715, 1698, 1701, 1705, 1715, 1670, 1715, 1729, 1585, 1661, 1662 and 1768 are included under the topic Early Aires History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Aires Spelling Variations

Spelling variations in names were a common occurrence before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate spelled their names differently as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Aires have been found, including Eyre, Eyer, Eyers, Eayres, Eyres, Ayer, Ayers,Heyer, Ayr, Air, Aires, Hyer, Hayer, Hoyer and many more.

Early Notables of the Aires family (pre 1700)

Notables of the family at this time include John Ayer (1582-1657), an English settler to Massachusetts sailing aboard the ship James in 1635, settling in Ipswich, Haverhill, and Salisbury, born in Salisbury, Wiltshire. Henry Eyre (1628-1678), was an English lawyer and politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1659 and 1678; Sir Giles Eyre (c. 1635-1695), was an English politician and judge, Member of Parliament for Downton (1660-1661), and Salisbury in 1689. Sir Samuel Eyre (1638-1698), was an English judge; and his son, Sir Robert Eyre (1666-1735), an English lawyer, Solicitor-General and Chief Justice of the Common Pleas. John Ayres (fl. 1680-1700)...
Another 162 words (12 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Aires Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Aires family to Ireland

Some of the Aires family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 119 words (8 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Aires migration to the United States +

Families began migrating abroad in enormous numbers because of the political and religious discontent in England. Often faced with persecution and starvation in England, the possibilities of the New World attracted many English people. Although the ocean trips took many lives, those who did get to North America were instrumental in building the necessary groundwork for what would become for new powerful nations. Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America bore the name Aires, or a variant listed above:

Aires Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Samuel Aires, aged 15, who arrived in Lynn, Massachusetts in 1637 [4]
John Aires, who landed in Massachusetts in 1645 [4]
John Aires, who arrived in Massachusetts in 1648 [4]
John Aires, who arrived in Virginia in 1662 [4]
Hen Aires, who arrived in Virginia in 1663 [4]
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Aires Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Thomas Aires, who landed in South Carolina in 1702 [4]
David Aires, who landed in North Carolina in 1703 [4]
Ambrose Aires, who arrived in Edenton, North Carolina in 1724 [4]
Jacob Aires, who landed in Maryland in 1749 [4]

Contemporary Notables of the name Aires (post 1700) +

Aires de Ornelas (1837-1880), Portuguese Roman Catholic Archbishop of Goa

The Aires 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: Virtus sola invicta
Motto Translation: Virtue alone is invincible.

Citations +

Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Shirley, Evelyn Philip, The Noble and Gentle Men of England; The Arms and Descents. Westminster: John Bower Nichols and Sons, 1866, Print.
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)