Aubrey History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:

England

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The name Aubrey was brought to England in the great wave of migration following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Aubrey family lived in Brecknock, Wales, where Sir Reginald Aubrey was granted lands in 1088. The name is topographic in origin and indicates that its original bearer once lived in a place planted with elder trees. The name also may be derived from a batismal name meaning "the son of Aubrey." In this case, the name would have been Albreda in the feminine form and Aubrey in the masculine form.

Early Origins of the Aubrey family

The surname Aubrey was first found in Brecknock in Wales where Sir Reginald Aubrey was granted lands in 1189. According to historians the first records was of "Saint Aubrey of the blood royal of France".

Early History of the Aubrey family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Aubrey research. Another 110 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1189, 1273, 1379, 1500, 1529, 1553, 1559, 1595, 1606, 1626, 1650, 1679, 1680, 1685, 1697, 1698, 1700 and 1743 are included under the topic Early Aubrey History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Aubrey Spelling Variations

Endless spelling variations are a prevailing characteristic of Norman surnames. Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules, and the introduction of Norman French added an unfamiliar ingredient to the English linguistic stew. French and Latin, the languages of the court, also influenced spellings. Finally, Medieval scribes generally spelled words according to how they sounded, so one person was often referred to by different spellings in different documents. The name has been spelled Aubrey, Aubry, Aubrie, Aubery, Awbrey, Awbry and others.

Early Notables of the Aubrey family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

Sir Reginald Aubrey
William Aubrey (ca. 1529-1595), Regius Professor of Civil Law at the University of Oxford from 1553 to 1559, one of the founding Fellows of Jesus College, Oxford
Sir John Aubrey, 1st Baronet of Llantrithead in the County of Glamorgan (c. 1606-1679)
Sir John Aubrey, 2nd Baronet (c. 1650-1700), Member of Parliament for Brackley (1698-1700), High Sheriff of Glamorganshire in 1685
Sir John Aubrey, 3rd Baronet (1680-1743)

Aubrey Ranking

In the United States, the name Aubrey is the 8,009^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1

Aubrey migration to the United States +

To escape the political and religious persecution within England at the time, many English families left for the various British colonies abroad. The voyage was extremely difficult, though, and the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving. But for those who made it, the trip was most often worth it. Many of the families who arrived went on to make valuable contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families reveals a number of immigrants bearing the name Aubrey or a variant listed above:

Aubrey Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

William Aubrey, who landed in Boston, Massachusetts in 1650 2

Aubrey Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Andrew Aubrey who purchased land in Virginia in 1714, by the mid-1800's the Aubrey family occupied territory in North Carolina, and Maryland

Aubrey Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

F. O. Aubrey, who settled in San Francisco, California in 1853

Aubrey migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Aubrey Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Charles Aubrey, English convict who was convicted in Banbury, Oxfordshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Eden" on 30th September 1848, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Island) 3

Aubrey migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Aubrey Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

C Aubrey, who landed in Wellington/New Plymouth, New Zealand in 1840 aboard the ship Essex
Harcourt Richard Aubrey, aged 22, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "London" in 1840
A Aubrey, who landed in Wellington/New Plymouth, New Zealand in 1842 aboard the ship Essex

Contemporary Notables of the name Aubrey (post 1700) +

Emlyn Aubrey (b. 1964), American professional PGA golfer
Robert Michael Aubrey (b. 1982), American Major League Baseball first baseman
James Thomas Aubrey Jr. (1918-1994), American television and film executive, President of the CBS television network during the early 1960s
Rachel Aubrey, American medical researcher
Wilmer Dean Aubrey (1904-1975), American Democratic Party politician, Member of Iowa State House of Representatives from Wapello County, 1945-46, 1949-51 4
Martin Luther King Aubrey Sr., American politician, Candidate in primary for Mayor of Los Angeles, California, 2005 4
Marjorie S. Aubrey, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from California, 1948, 1952; Presidential Elector for California, 1948 4
G. H. Aubrey, American politician, Member of Georgia State House of Representatives from Bartow County, 1923-24 4
Charles Aubrey, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from California, 1944 4
Alfred B. Aubrey, American Republican politician, Member of Connecticut State House of Representatives from Meriden; Elected 1930 4
... (Another 9 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

The Aubrey 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: Solem fero
Motto Translation: I bear the sun.