The name Cheeray arrived in
England after the
Norman Conquest of 1066. The Cheeray 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 Cheeray is derived from the Anglo Norman French word,
cherise, which means
cherry, [1]CITATION[CLOSE]
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X) and was probably used to indicate a landmark, such as a cherry tree, which distinguished the location bearing the name.
Early Origins of the Cheeray family
The surname Cheeray was first found in
Derbyshire, The
Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 list William Chirie.
[2]CITATION[CLOSE]
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6) 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]CITATION[CLOSE]
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Early History of the Cheeray family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Cheeray research.
Another 395 words (28 lines of text) covering the years 1348, 1368, 1484, 1509, 1524, 1665, 1713, 1683 and 1706 are included under the topic Early Cheeray History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Cheeray Spelling Variations
A multitude of
spelling variations characterize Norman surnames. Many variations occurred because Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules. The introduction of Norman French to
England also had a pronounced effect, as did the court languages of Latin and French. Therefore, one person was often referred to by several different spellings in a single lifetime. The various spellings include Cherry, Cherrie, Cherrey, Cherries, Chery, Chearie, Chearry, Cherie and many more.
Early Notables of the Cheeray family (pre 1700)
Another 33 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Cheeray Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Cheeray family to Ireland
Some of the Cheeray family moved to
Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 101 words (7 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 Cheeray family to the New World and Oceana
Many English families left
England, to avoid the chaos of their homeland and migrated to the many British colonies abroad. Although the conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and some travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute, once in the colonies, many of the families prospered and made valuable contributions to the cultures of what would become the United States and Canada. Research into the origins of individual families in North America has revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Cheeray or a variant listed above: 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.
The Cheeray 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.