Bryerlay History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

• Origins Available:
• England

Early Origins of the Bryerlay family

Early History of the Bryerlay family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bryerlay research. Another 75 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1586, 1626, 1637, 1654 and 1782 are included under the topic Early Bryerlay History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bryerlay Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Bryerlay 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 Bryerlay include: Brierley, Brierly, Briarly, Briarley, Bryerly and others.

Early Notables of the Bryerlay family

Notables of this surname at this time include: Roger Brereley or Brierley (1586-1637), English divine and poet, born on 4 Aug. 1586, at Marland, then a hamlet in the parish of Rochdale, where Thomas Brereley, his father, and Roger, his grandfather, were farmers. "The name is spelled in many ways, but it seems best to adhere to the form which constantly recurs in the Rochdale baptismal register, as this undoubtedly represents the right pronunciation...
Another 74 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Bryerlay Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Bryerlay family

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 Bryerlay or a variant listed above: Byron, Joel, John, Matthew, Robert, Thomas, and William Brierley arrived in Philadelphia between 1832 and 1868. John, Matthew, Thomas and Thomas Brierly arrived in Philadelphia between 1855 and 1868..