Berrymore History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

• Origins Available:
• Ireland
• England

Etymology of Berrymore

Non-Gaelic elements made their first appearance in Irish nomenclature after the Strongbow settlers began to arrive on Irish shores. Although the Irish already had an established a system of hereditary surnames, the Anglo-Normans also brought their own traditions with them when they arrived. The two systems were not extremely conflicting, and eventually drew upon one another. Although local surnames, such as Berrymore, were not entirely unknown to the Irish, this form of surname was much more popular with the Strongbownians. Local names were taken from the names of a place or a geographical feature where the person lived, held land, or was born. Originally, these place names were prefixed by de, which means from in French. This type of prefix was eventually either made a part of the surname, if the place name began with a vowel, or was eliminated entirely. The local names of these Anglo-Norman invaders first referred to places in Normandy, or more typically England, but eventually for those Strongbownians or their descendents that remained in Ireland, the local names really did begin to refer to local places or geographical features of the island. The Berrymore family appears to have originally lived at Barrymore in the English county of Lincolnshire. The surname Berrymore belongs to the large category of Anglo-Norman habitation names, which are derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads.

Early Origins of the Berrymore family

Early History of the Berrymore family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Berrymore research. Another 66 words (5 lines of text) covering the year 1172 is included under the topic Early Berrymore History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Berrymore Spelling Variations

Names were simply spelled as they sounded by medieval scribes and church officials. Therefore, during the lifetime of a single person, his name was often spelt in many different ways, explaining the many spelling variations encountered while researching the name Berrymore. Some of these variations included: Barrymore, Berrymore, Barymore, Barrymoor and others.

Early Notables of the Berrymore family

More information is included under the topic Early Berrymore Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Berrymore family

The Irish emigration during the late 18th and 19th century contributed to the melting pot of nationalities in North America, and the building of a whole new era of industry and commerce in what was seen as a rich, new land. Ireland'sGreat Potato Famine resulted in the worst economic and social conditions in the island's history. And in response to the hunger, disease, and poverty, during this decade the total number of emigrants to leave for North America rivaled all the previous years combined. Those from this decade that arrived on North American shores were not warmly welcomed by the established population, but they were vital to the rapid development of the industry, agriculture, and infrastructure of the infant nations of the United States and what would become Canada. Research into early immigration and passenger lists has shown many people bearing the name Berrymore: the family of Barrymore who in the late 19th century arrived in the New World and they were exemplified by the famous family of theatre and films, headed by John Barrymore..