Drury History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms 

Origins Available: 
  England 
  Ireland 


When the ancestors of the Drury family emigrated to England following the Norman Conquest in 1066 they brought their family name with them. They lived in Suffolk. This family was originally from Rouvray, Normandy, and it is from the local form of this place-name, De Rouvray, which literally translates as from Rouvray. 1

In the language of Chaucer, signifies love or courtship: “Of bataille and of chevalrie, Of ladies love and druerie Anon I wol you tell.”

Early Origins of the Drury family

The surname Drury was first found in Suffolk where John de Drury, son and heir of a Norman adventurer settled at Thurston. 2

"The founder of the family in England is mentioned in the Battel-Abbey Boll. He settled first at Thurston and subsequently at Rougham, co. Suffolk, and his descendants Continued in possession of that estate for about six hundred years." 3

"John de Drury, son and heir of the Norman adventurer, settled at Thurston, in Suffolk, and bore for arms "arg, on a chief vert, two mullets pierced or." His descendant Nicholas Drury, of Thurston, living temp. Edward II., married Joane, daughter and heir of Sir Simon Saxham, Knt., and by her had Roger, Nicholas, and John, from which three brothers derived the Drurys of Rougham, Saxham, Hawsted, Egerly, Riddlesworth, Besthorp, Everstone, &c. The founder of the Riddlesworth branch, was Sir Drue Drury, Gentleman Usher of the Privy Chamber to Queen Elizabeth, and one of the keepers of Queen Mary of Scotland." 2

"Drury, Drewry, or Drewery, is an ancient Lincolnshire name. As Drury, and occasionally as Drewery and Druery, it was established in this county and in the adjacent counties of York and Cambridge in the 13th century." 4

Early History of the Drury family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Drury research. Another 133 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1066, 1527, 1531, 1536, 1567, 1579, 1587, 1589, 1607, 1614, 1617, 1623, 1624, 1627, 1641 and 1739 are included under the topic Early Drury History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Drury Spelling Variations

The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries. For that reason, spelling variations are common among many Anglo-Norman names. The shape of the English language was frequently changed with the introduction of elements of Norman French, Latin, and other European languages; even the spelling of literate people's names were subsequently modified. Drury has been recorded under many different variations, including Drury, Drewery, Drewry, Drurie, Drewrie and others.

Early Notables of the Drury family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

Drury Ranking

In the United States, the name Drury is the 3,451st most popular surname with an estimated 9,948 people with that name. 6 However, in the United Kingdom, the name Drury is ranked the 928th most popular surname with an estimated 7,441 people with that name. 7

Migration of the Drury family to Ireland

Some of the Drury 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.


Drury migration to the United States +

To escape the uncertainty of the political and religious uncertainty found in England, many English families boarded ships at great expense to sail for the colonies held by Britain. The passages were expensive, though, and the boats were unsafe, overcrowded, and ridden with disease. Those who were hardy and lucky enough to make the passage intact were rewarded with land, opportunity, and social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families went on to be important contributors to the young nations of Canada and the United States where they settled. Drurys were some of the first of the immigrants to arrive in North America:

Drury Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
Drury Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Drury migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Drury Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Drury migration to Australia +

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

Drury Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Drury migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 14
Drury Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

Contemporary Notables of the name Drury (post 1700) +


The Drury 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: Cave ut comprehendas
Motto Translation: Be careful to include


Suggested Readings for the name Drury +
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