Show ContentsArie History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Arie is a name that was brought to England by the ancestors of the Arie family when they migrated to the region after the Norman Conquest in 1066. The Arie family lived in the Castle of Airey, or Arey in Normandy. The earliest record of the name was in 1198 of Goisbert de Arreio in Normandy. In England, the family settled mostly in the counties of Cumberland and Westmorland (now part of Cumbria) having derived from the word eyrara which means gravel-banked stream. 1

Another source notes "this Cumberland family consider the name to have been borrowed from some elevated dwelling among the mountains called an Eyrie, such designations for residences not being uncommon." 2

Early Origins of the Arie family

The surname Arie was first found in the northern English counties of Cumberland and Westmorland where they held a family seat from very ancient times, probably long before the Norman Conquest of England by the Duke of Normandy in 1066 A.D.

Early records for the family are very scarce. The only entry we found was of Robert de Hayra who was listed in 1301 as holding lands in Lancashire at that time. 3

Christopher Airay (1601-1670), the pioneer of English logic and Henry Airay (c. 1560-1616), the Puritan divine and author both hail from Westmorland. 4

Early History of the Arie family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Arie research. Another 110 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1301, 1332, 1600, 1611, 1655, 1833 and 1911 are included under the topic Early Arie History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Arie Spelling Variations

Spelling variations in names were a common occurrence in the eras before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate regularly changed the spellings of their names as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Arie have been found, including Airey, Airy, Airie, Arey, Array, Aireys, Aries, Areys and many more.

Early Notables of the Arie family

Another 47 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Arie Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Arie family to Ireland

Some of the Arie 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.

Migration of the Arie family

For many English families, the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. For such families, the shores of Ireland, Australia, and the New World beckoned. They left their homeland at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. Many arrived after the long voyage sick, starving, and without a penny. But even those were greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. Numerous English settlers who arrived in the United States and Canada at this time went on to make important contributions to the developing cultures of those countries. Many of those families went on to make significant contributions to the rapidly developing colonies in which they settled. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Arie were among those contributors: Henry Airey, who settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1856; Robert Airy settled in Boston, in 1765.


Contemporary Notables of the name Arie (post 1700) +

  • Raffaele Arié (1920-1988), Bulgarian bass singer
  • Arie van Wetten (1934-2013), Dutch racing cyclist who rode in the 1957 Tour de France
  • Arie Johannes "Hans" Breukhoven (1946-2017), Dutch businessman, founder and president of Free Record Shop
  • Arie Theodorus van Deursen (1931-2011), Dutch historian
  • Arie den Hartog (b. 1941), Dutch former road bicycle racer
  • Arie Vermeer (1922-2013), Dutch football player who played from 1942 to 1955
  • Arie van Vliet (1916-2001), Dutch gold and silver medalist racing cyclist at the 1936 Summer Olympics
  • Dr. Arie Vicente, American university professor
  • Arie Van Doesburg, American politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from Michigan 5th District, 1934 5


The Arie 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: Je le tiendrai
Motto Translation: I will possess.


  1. Hanks, Patricia and Flavia Hodges, A Dictionary of Surnames. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1988. Print. (ISBN 0-19-211592-8)
  2. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  3. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  4. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  5. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 15) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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