Heyer History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The name Heyer is part of the ancient legacy of the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. Heyer was a name used 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." 1 2 3
Two other sources elude to the Norman influence of the name: "Eyre: is a place-name in Normandy," 4 and the name is "from Le Heir, Heres. William and Wyrnarc Heres occur in Normandy 1198 (Magni Rotuli Scaccarii Normanniae)." 5
Early Origins of the Heyer family
The surname Heyer was first found in Derbyshire, where the ancestral home of the main branch of the Heyer family is thought to be located. Early written records of the name Heyer have been found in many counties, notably Derbyshire, Wiltshire, and Shropshire.
The Feet of Fines for Essex for 1208 includes an entry for Ralph le Eir and later, Robertus Heres was listed in the Curia Regis Rolls for Cambridgeshire in 1220. In Cambridgeshire, we found Robert leyre in the Feet of Fines for 1245 and in Gloucestershire, Richard le Heyer was listed in the Hundredorum Rolls for 1274. In Yorkshire, early records show Adam le Hayre at Wakefield in 1275 and a few years later, Robert le Heir was listed at Eynsham, Oxfordshire in 1281. 6
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. 2
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. 7
"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." 8
The chapel in Great Longstone, Derbyshire contains monuments to the "family of Eyre, earls of Newburgh." 9
The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 include entries for: Henry le Eyer, Oxfordshire; Adam le Eyr, Cambridgeshire; and William le Eyre, Cambridgeshire. 1
Early History of the Heyer family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Heyer research. Another 112 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1216, 1582, 1585, 1628, 1635, 1638, 1657, 1659, 1660, 1661, 1662, 1665, 1666, 1670, 1678, 1680, 1689, 1693, 1695, 1698, 1700, 1701, 1705, 1712, 1715, 1729, 1735 and 1768 are included under the topic Early Heyer History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Heyer Spelling Variations
Until the dictionary, an invention of only the last few hundred years, the English language lacked any comprehensive system of spelling rules. Consequently, spelling variations in names are frequently found in early Anglo-Saxon and later Anglo-Norman documents. One person's name was often spelled several different ways over a lifetime. The recorded variations of Heyer include Eyre, Eyer, Eyers, Eayres, Eyres, Ayer, Ayers,Heyer, Ayr, Air, Aires, Hyer, Hayer, Hoyer and many more.
Early Notables of the Heyer family
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 Heyer Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Heyer Ranking
In the United States, the name Heyer is the 7,832nd most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 10
Migration of the Heyer family to Ireland
Some of the Heyer 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.
Heyer migration to the United States +
Thousands of English families boarded ships sailing to the New World in the hope of escaping the unrest found in England at this time. Although the search for opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad took the lives of many because of the cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels, the opportunity perceived in the growing colonies of North America beckoned. Many of the settlers who survived the journey went on to make important contributions to the transplanted cultures of their adopted countries. The Heyer were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records:
Heyer Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
- Johan Jurg Heyer, who landed in New York in 1709 11
- Lienert Heyer, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1737 11
- George Heyer, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1738 11
- Johan Georg Heyer, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1739 11
- Joh Friederich Heyer, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1743 11
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Heyer Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
- Jacob Heyer, aged 23, who arrived in Missouri in 1848 11
- Charles Heyer, aged 18, who landed in New York, NY in 1848 11
- Mr. Friedke. Heyer, aged 21, German who arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1848 aboard the ship "Colonist"
- Mr. Heinrich Heyer, aged 28, German who arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1848 aboard the ship "Colonist"
- Miss Emilie Heyer, aged 24, German who arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1848 aboard the ship "Colonist"
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Heyer migration to Australia +
Emigration to
Australia followed the
First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:
Heyer Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
- George Heyer, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Sir Edward Parry" in 1849 12
Contemporary Notables of the name Heyer (post 1700) +
- Heather Heyer (1982-2017), American paralegal who was killed during the Charlottesville, Virginia Unite the Right rally on August 12th, 2017
- Stephon Heyer (b. 1984), American NFL football player
- John Henry Heyer (1831-1905), American politician
- John Christian Frederick Heyer (1793-1873), American missionary, founder of the Guntur Mission in Andhra Pradesh, India
- William Heyer, American politician, Candidate for Connecticut State House of Representatives from Waterbury, 1904 13
- Gary Heyer, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Minnesota, 2012 13
- A. O. Heyer, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Wyoming, 1932 13
- Georgette Heyer (1902-1974), English historical romance and detective fiction novelist
- Volker Heyer (b. 1970), German silver medalist judoka at the 1997 European Judo Championships
- Shane Heyer (b. 1964), Canadian NHL ice hockey linesman
- ... (Another 5 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
The Heyer 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 +
- Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
- Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
- Dixon, Bernard Homer, Surnames. London: John Wilson and son, 1857. Print
- Baring-Gould S., Family Names and their Story. London: Seeley, Service & Co. Limited, 1913. Print
- The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
- Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
- 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.
- "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
- 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)
- State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) The SIR EDWARD PARRY 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849SirEdwardParry.htm
- The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 12) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html