Cheray History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The ancestors of the Cheray family brought their name to England in the wave of migration after the Norman Conquest of 1066. They 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 Cheray 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 Cheray family

The surname Cheray 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 Cheray family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Cheray 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 Cheray History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Cheray Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years the English language had no fixed system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations occurred commonly in Anglo Norman surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Cheray were recorded, including Cherry, Cherrie, Cherrey, Cherries, Chery, Chearie, Chearry, Cherie and many more.

Early Notables of the Cheray family

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

Migration of the Cheray family to Ireland

Some of the Cheray 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 Cheray family

The unstable environment in England at this time caused numerous families to board ships and leave in search of opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad in places like Ireland, Australia, and particularly the New World. The voyage was extremely difficult, however, and only taken at great expense. The cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels caused many to arrive diseased and starving, not to mention destitute from the enormous cost. Still opportunity in the emerging nations of Canada and the United States was far greater than at home and many went on to make important contributions to the cultures of their adopted countries. An examination of many early immigration records reveals that people bearing the name Cheray arrived in North America very early: 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 Cheray 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.

Citations +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)