Show ContentsCharry History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Charry is a name that was brought to England by the ancestors of the Charry family when they migrated to the region after the Norman Conquest in 1066. The Charry family lived in Lincolnshire. They are descended from the line of the House of De Cheries, Seigneurs of Brauvel, Beauval, in Normandy, near Avranches. The name Charry is derived from the Anglo Norman French word, cherise, which means cherry, 1 and was probably used to indicate a landmark, such as a cherry tree, which distinguished the location bearing the name.

Early Origins of the Charry family

The surname Charry was first found in Derbyshire, The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 list William Chirie. 2 A few years later in 1284, the Assize Rolls of Lancashire list Rober Chyry. The Subsidy Rolls of Suffolk list Richard Chery in 1524. 1

Early History of the Charry family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Charry research. Another 198 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1348, 1368, 1484, 1509, 1524, 1665, 1683, 1706, 1713 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Charry History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Charry 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 Charry have been found, including Cherry, Cherrie, Cherrey, Cherries, Chery, Chearie, Chearry, Cherie and many more.

Early Notables of the Charry family

Another 33 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Charry Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Charry family to Ireland

Some of the Charry family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 57 words (4 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 Charry 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 Charry were among those contributors: John Cherry landed in America in Virginia in 1637; Franc. Cherry, who arrived in Virginia in 1643; Richard Cherry, who arrived in Virginia in 1655; William Cherry, who came to Virginia in 1659.


Contemporary Notables of the name Charry (post 1700) +

  • Major-General Marie-Martin-Jean-Alfred de Charry (1879-1952), French Chief of Staff Army of the Interior (1940-1941) 3


The Charry 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: Cheris l'espoir
Motto Translation: Cherish hope.


  1. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  2. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  3. Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2011, October 3) Marie-Martin-Jean-Alfred Charry. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Charry/Marie-Martin-Jean-Alfred_de/France.html


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