Contents [hide]

Eyres History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Motto Citations

Eyres History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The name Eyres comes from the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. It was a name for a person who was well-known as the heir to a title, fortune, or estate. The name is thought to be derived from the Old French eir, which is itself derived from the Latin heres, meaning "heir." 1 2 3

Two other sources elude to the Norman influence of the name: "Eyre: is a place-name in Normandy," 4 and the name is "from Le Heir, Heres. William and Wyrnarc Heres occur in Normandy 1198 (Magni Rotuli Scaccarii Normanniae)." 5

Early Origins of the Eyres family

The surname Eyres was first found in Derbyshire, where the ancestral home of the main branch of the Eyres family is thought to be located. Early written records of the name Eyres have been found in many counties, notably Derbyshire, Wiltshire, and Shropshire.

The Feet of Fines for Essex for 1208 includes an entry for Ralph le Eir and later, Robertus Heres was listed in the Curia Regis Rolls for Cambridgeshire in 1220. In Cambridgeshire, we found Robert leyre in the Feet of Fines for 1245 and in Gloucestershire, Richard le Heyer was listed in the Hundredorum Rolls for 1274. In Yorkshire, early records show Adam le Hayre at Wakefield in 1275 and a few years later, Robert le Heir was listed at Eynsham, Oxfordshire in 1281. 6

In the early legends of the Eyre family, it was recounted that a Knight named Eyre who fought with Richard the Lionheart at the Battle of Ascalon during the Crusades lost a leg while defending his King, which is why the family still bears a booted leg in its crest. 2

Another source, mentions that the traditional origin of the name was in circumstance of a Norman knight having at the Battle of Hastings succoured (helped) duke William of Normandy and given him air when he was in danger of suffocation. 7

"The Eyres appear as witnesses to charters in the Peak of Derbyshire in the remotest period to which private charters ascend. The first of the name known is William le Eyre, of Hope, in the reign of Henry III." 8

The chapel in Great Longstone, Derbyshire contains monuments to the "family of Eyre, earls of Newburgh." 9

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 include entries for: Henry le Eyer, Oxfordshire; Adam le Eyr, Cambridgeshire; and William le Eyre, Cambridgeshire. 1

Early History of the Eyres family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Eyres research. Another 112 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1216, 1582, 1585, 1628, 1635, 1638, 1657, 1659, 1660, 1661, 1662, 1665, 1666, 1670, 1678, 1680, 1689, 1693, 1695, 1698, 1700, 1701, 1705, 1712, 1715, 1729, 1735 and 1768 are included under the topic Early Eyres History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Eyres Spelling Variations

Only recently has spelling become standardized in the English language. As the English language evolved in the Middle Ages, the spelling of names changed also. The name Eyres has undergone many spelling variations, including Eyre, Eyer, Eyers, Eayres, Eyres, Ayer, Ayers,Heyer, Ayr, Air, Aires, Hyer, Hayer, Hoyer and many more.

Early Notables of the Eyres family

Notables of the family at this time include John Ayer (1582-1657), an English settler to Massachusetts sailing aboard the ship James in 1635, settling in Ipswich, Haverhill, and Salisbury, born in Salisbury, Wiltshire.Henry Eyre (1628-1678), was an English lawyer and politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1659 and 1678; Sir Giles Eyre (c. 1635-1695), was an English politician and judge, Member of Parliament for Downton (1660-1661), and Salisbury in 1689.Sir Samuel Eyre (1638-1698), was an English judge; and his son, Sir Robert Eyre (1666-1735), an English lawyer, Solicitor-General and Chief Justice of the Common Pleas.John Ayres (fl. 1680-1700)...
Another 162 words (12 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Eyres Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Eyres family to Ireland

Some of the Eyres family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 119 words (8 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Eyres migration to the United States +

To escape the unstable social climate in England of this time, many families boarded ships for the New World with the hope of finding land, opportunity, and greater religious and political freedom. Although the voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, those families that arrived often found greater opportunities and freedoms than they could have experienced at home. 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 Eyres were among those contributors:

Eyres Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Nicholas Eyres, who arrived in Virginia in 1622 aboard the ship "Gift" 10
Jon Eyres, who arrived in Virginia in 1642 10
Robert Eyres, who arrived in Virginia in 1642 10
William Eyres, who landed in Virginia in 1649 10
William Eyres, who landed in Virginia in 1658 10
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Eyres Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Zachariah Eyres, who arrived in North Dakota in 1884 10
Thomas Eyres, who landed in Iowa in 1885 10
William Eyres, who arrived in Iowa in 1885 10
Richard S Eyres, who landed in Iowa in 1885 10

Eyres migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Eyres Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Mr. Ephraim Eyres U.E., "Ephrium" (b. 1733) born in Massachusetts, USA from Skenesborough, New York, USA who settled in Elizabeth Town [Elizabethtown], Leeds County, Ontario c. 1782 he served in Jessup's Rangers he died in 1802 11

Eyres migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Eyres Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. John Eyres, English convict who was convicted in Wiltshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Eliza" on 2nd February 1831, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 12
Miss Jane Eyres who was convicted in Manchester, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Cadet" on 4th September 1847, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 13
Martha Eyres, aged 15, a servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1856 aboard the ship "Lord Raglan" 14
Ruth Eyres, aged 19, a servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1856 aboard the ship "Lord Raglan" 14
Isaac Eyres, aged 20, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1856 aboard the ship "Lord Raglan" 14
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Eyres (post 1700) +

Harry Eyres (b. 1958), English journalist, writer and poet
Richard "Richie" Eyres (b. 1966), English professional rugby league and rugby union footballer, active in the 1980s and 1990s
John "Jack" Eyres (1899-1975), English footballer
David Eyres (b. 1964), English former professional footballer
Sir Harry Charles Augustus Eyres (1856-1944), British diplomat, Envoy to Albania (1922 to 1926)
Leslie Harvey Eyres (1892-1983), Canadian tire merchant and politician who represented Chilliwack in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia from 1937 to 1952
Robert Eyres Landor (1781-1869), English writer and clergyman, brother of Walter

Historic Events for the Eyres family +

HMS Hood

Mr. Thomas W W Eyres (b. 1902), English Able Seaman serving for the Royal Navy from Southampton, Hampshire, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 15

The Eyres 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: Virtus sola invicta
Motto Translation: Virtue alone is invincible.

Citations +

Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
Dixon, Bernard Homer, Surnames. London: John Wilson and son, 1857. Print
Baring-Gould S., Family Names and their Story. London: Seeley, Service & Co. Limited, 1913. Print
The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Shirley, Evelyn Philip, The Noble and Gentle Men of England; The Arms and Descents. Westminster: John Bower Nichols and Sons, 1866, Print.
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 28th February 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/eliza
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 17th November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/cadet/
South Australian Register Friday February 7th, 1856. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Lord Raglan 1856. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/lordraglan1856.shtml
H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm