Archey History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

Archey is an ancient Norman name that arrived in England after the Norman Conquest of 1066. It is a name for a bowman, and derives from the French L'Archer of the same meaning.

Early Origins of the Archey family

The surname Archey was first found in Warwickshire, where "Fulbert L'Archer, the patriarch of the Lords Archer of Umberslade, in the county of Warwick, appears among the warriors at Hastings, who received recompense from the victor. His son, Robert L'Archer, obtained additions to his territorial possessions by grant from Henry I., whose tutor he had been, and still further increased his patrimony by marrying Sebit, daughter of Henry of Villiers, and thus acquiring the lands of Umberslade." 1

However, another noted source claims Hampshire was the founding place for the family. "Willelmus Arcarius" held a barony in the hundred of Sunburne, in Hampshire. 2 This family took its name from the office it held under the Dukes of Normandy before the Conquest. Its derivation is rather uncertain, but a family of L'Archer, still flourishing in Brittany, bears the same three arrows that were borne by the English Archers, differenced in tincture. The latter claim as their ancestor Fulbert l'Archer, the father of Robert, to whom the Conqueror entrusted the charge of his son, afterwards Henry I. " 3

Robert Larchier was listed in the Pipe Rolls of Hampshire and Warwickshire in 1166. Hugh le Archer was listed in the Feet of Fines of Cheshire in 1199. 4

Odo le Archer was listed in Devon during the reign of Henry III and John le Archer was listed in Yorkshire in the reign of Edward I. The Hundredorum Rolls of 1237 list Thomas le Archer in Derbyshire. 5

The L'Archer family from Tanworth in Arden in Warwickshire held Umberslade Hall outside Tamworth in England for over 600 years. Of note was John L'Archers, Larger or L'Archer (died 1349) who was an English-born cleric and judge who was Lord Chancellor of Ireland and Deputy Justiciar. He was nephew of Thomas L'Archer (died 1329), the English monk who held the office of English Prior of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, also born in Tanworth.

Some of the family were found to the far south in the parish of St. Ewe in Cornwall. "There was formerly a manor called Trelewick, but this has many years since been totally dismembered. The barton house was for some time the seat of John Archer, Esq. who died in 1733, to which family the estate belonged. Soon after this gentleman's death the house fell to decay, and remained for many years without an inhabitant. About twenty three years since the fee of Trelewick was sold by Addis Archer, Esq. to the late Mr. John Harris, by whom the dilapidated mansion was taken down, and a genteel farm house erected in its stead." 6

"There are two gentlemen's seats in the parish of [Lewannick, Cornwall], both of which are ancient; Trewanta Hall, the residence of William Hocken, Esq. and Treliske or Trelaske, the property and abode of Samuel Archer, Esq." 6

Early History of the Archey family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Archey research. Another 274 words (20 lines of text) covering the years 1166, 1210, 1214, 1273, 1296, 1350, 1549, 1551, 1554, 1581, 1598, 1617, 1619, 1624, 1630, 1640, 1659, 1660, 1662, 1682, 1684, 1685, 1856, 1861 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Archey History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Archey Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years the English language had no fixed system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations occurred commonly in Anglo Norman surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Archey were recorded, including Archer, Archar, Arsher, Arsher, Arshire, Archere and many more.

Early Notables of the Archey family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Thomas Archer (1554-1630?), an English divine, who was born at Bury St. Edmunds 12 Aug. 1554, and educated at Trinity College, Cambridge, where he was elected to a fellowship; John Archer (1598-1682), an English judge from Essex; Sir Simon Archer (1581-1662), an English antiquary and politician who sat in the House of Commons in 1640, High Sheriff of Warwickshire; and...
Another 67 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Archey Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Archey Ranking

In the United States, the name Archey is the 14,999^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 7

Migration of the Archey family to Ireland

Some of the Archey family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 193 words (14 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Archey family

The unstable environment in England at this time caused numerous families to board ships and leave in search of opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad in places like Ireland, Australia, and particularly the New World. The voyage was extremely difficult, however, and only taken at great expense. The cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels caused many to arrive diseased and starving, not to mention destitute from the enormous cost. Still opportunity in the emerging nations of Canada and the United States was far greater than at home and many went on to make important contributions to the cultures of their adopted countries. An examination of many early immigration records reveals that people bearing the name Archey arrived in North America very early: Samuel Archer who settled in Salem, Massachusetts, in 1630; just ten years after the "Mayflower." He was appointed Marshall in 1650. Henry Archer was another settler in Roxbury, Massachusetts in 1639.

Contemporary Notables of the name Archey (post 1700) +

Sir Gilbert Edward Archey CBE (1890-1974), New Zealand zoologist, ethnologist, World War I officer, and museum director from New Zealand

The Archey 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: Sola bona quae honesta
Motto Translation: Those things only are good which are honest.

Citations +

Burke, John Bernard, The Roll of Battle Abbey. London: Edward Churton, 26, Holles Street, 1848, Print.
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Cleveland, Dutchess of The Battle Abbey Roll with some Account of the Norman Lineages. London: John Murray, Abermarle Street, 1889. Print. Volume 1 of 3
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Hutchins, Fortescue, The History of Cornwall, from the Earliest Records and Traditions to the Present Time. London: William Penaluna, 1824. Print
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/