Ayers History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

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Scotland

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Scottish history reveals Ayers was first used as a surname by the Strathclyde-Briton people. It was a name for someone who lived in the city of Ayr in South-Western Scotland.

Early Origins of the Ayers family

The surname Ayers was first found in Ayrshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Inbhir Àir), formerly a county in the southwestern Strathclyde region of Scotland, that today makes up the Council Areas of South, East, and North Ayrshire, where the family has held a family seat from ancient times. One of the first on record was Reginald Ayr, who was Clerk of Ayr in 1287 and Albinus Ayr had a charter of lands from King Robert the Bruce in 1315.

Early History of the Ayers family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ayers research. Another 67 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1296, 1522, 1567, 1638 and 1712 are included under the topic Early Ayers History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ayers Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that rules have developed and the process of spelling according to sound has been abandoned. Scottish names from before that time tend to appear under many different spelling variations. Ayers has been spelled Ayer, Air, Ayre, Ayers and others.

Early Notables of the Ayers family

More information is included under the topic Early Ayers Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ayers Ranking

In the United States, the name Ayers is the 677^th most popular surname with an estimated 42,279 people with that name. 1

Migration of the Ayers family to Ireland

Some of the Ayers 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.

Ayers migration to the United States +

Unwelcome in their beloved homeland, many Scots sailed for the colonies of North America. There, they found land and freedom, and even the opportunity to make a new nation in the American War of Independence. These Scottish settlers played essential roles in the founding of the United States, and the shaping of contemporary North America. Among them:

Ayers Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Thomas Ayers and Mary Ayers, age 15, who arrived in Boston in 1635
John Ayers, who arrived in New England aboard the ship "James" in 1635 2
Robert Ayers, who arrived in Rhode Island in 1664

Ayers Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Charles Ayers, aged 53, who immigrated to the United States, in 1893
Clinton P. Ayers, aged 31, who settled in America, in 1893

Ayers Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Clinton P. Ayers, aged 45, who landed in America from Belfast, in 1903
Carrie Ayers, aged 35, who landed in America from London, in 1903
Amy Ayers, aged 5, who settled in America from Cornwall, in 1903
Beatrice Ayers, aged 25, who landed in America from Cornwall, in 1903
Clara Ayers, aged 22, who landed in America from Glasgow, in 1904
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Ayers migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Ayers Settlers in Canada in the 17th Century

Roger Ayers who settled in Port de Grave, Newfoundland in 1681 3

Ayers Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

John Ayers, who settled in Bonavista, Newfoundland in 1708 3

Ayers Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century

Arthur Frank Ayers, aged 57, who immigrated to Stamford, Canada, in 1911

Ayers migration to Australia +

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

Ayers Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Samuel Ayers, English convict who was convicted in Ipswich, Suffolk, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Captain Cook" on 2nd May 1833, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 4
Mr. Samuel Ayers, British convict who was convicted in Exeter, Devon, England for life, transported aboard the "Henry Tanner" on 27th June 1834, settling in New South Wales, Australia 5
Henry Ayers, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Fairfield" in 1840 6
Anne Ayers, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Fairfield" in 1840 6

Ayers 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:

Ayers Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. A. Ayers, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Gananoque" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 9th May 1860 7
Mrs. Ayers, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Gananoque" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 9th May 1860 7
Miss Alice Ayers, (b. 1865), aged 18, Cornish general servant departing on 27th September 1883 aboard the ship "Trevelyan" going to Invercargill, New Zealand arriving in port on 30th December 1883 8

Contemporary Notables of the name Ayers (post 1700) +

Howard Edmonds "Doc" Ayers (1922-2020), American football coach from Toccoa, Georgia
Sterling Haskel "Hack" Ayers (1936-2020), American auctioneer and politician, Member of the Tennessee House of Representatives (1967-1970)
Demarcus Ayers (b. 1994), American football wide receiver
William Charles "Bill" Ayers (b. 1944), American elementary education theorist
Rufus A. Ayers (1849-1926), Virginia lawyer, Attorney General of Virginia
Alvino Dorrance "A.D." Ayers (1850-1921), American Major League Baseball umpire
John G. K. Ayers (1837-1913), American Union Army soldier, who received a Medal of Honor on August 31 1895 for Gallantry in the charge of the "volunteer storming party"
Edward L. Ayers (b. 1953), American historian
Roy Ayers (b. 1940), American funk, soul and jazz vibraphone player
D. C. Ayers, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Wisconsin, 1868 9
... (Another 38 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)