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The earliest origins of the Dyars surname date from the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. Their name reveals that an early member was a deer, where in early times it was used as a term of endearment. The surname Dyars originally derived from the Old English Dyri. The name could also have been derived from the Old English word deag, which meant "dye." As a surname, Dyars was likely an occupational name for a "dyer of cloth." 1 In ancient Latin documents, the trade and surname was listed as "tinctor" and has a French equivalent of Teinturier.
The surname Dyars was first found in Oxfordshire where one the first records of the family was John le Deyere who was listed in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273. There was quite a few early records of the family in Somerset. Kirby's Quest of Somerset listed: John Dyar; Richard le Dyghar; John le Dyghar, as all having lived there temp. 1 Edward III. Richard le Dyer, of Kiderminster was rector of Fincham, Norfolk in 1333. 2 3
Again in Somerset, another source notes that Henry le Deghar was listed there in 1260. Later the Subsidy Rolls of 1275 listed Robert le Deyare in Worcestershire and later again, Alexander Dyghere was found in the Subsidy Rolls for Sussex in 1296. The Subsidy Rolls for Derbyshire noted Henry le Dyer had lands there in 1327. 4
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Dyars research. Another 148 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1260, 1273, 1333, 1382, 1543, 1596, 1607, 1611, 1660, 1680, 1682, 1685, 1697, 1699 and 1757 are included under the topic Early Dyars History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Dyars are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Dyars include: Dyer, Dyers, Dyar, Dier, Dyars, Dieres, Dire, Dires and many more.
Notables of this surname at this time include: Sir Edward Dyer (1543-1607) English poet in the court of Elizabethan I, he was knighted and made chancellor of the Order of the Garter in 1596; William Dyre (died 1685), Englishman who served as the 13th Mayor of New York City (1680 to 1682); John Dyer (1699-1757), a Welsh poet; and Mary Barrett Dyer (c.1611-1660), an English Puritan turned Quaker who was hanged in Boston, Massachusetts for repeatedly defying a law banning Quakers from...
Another 81 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Dyars Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Dyars or a variant listed above: Abigail Dyer who settled in Nantasket, Massachusetts in 1630.