Contents [hide]

Fernee History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Motto Citations

Fernee History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Scotland
Ireland

The illustrious name Fernee dates back to before the Norman Conquest when the held lands in "Vernai, a parish in the arrondissement of Bayeux, [France and was later] Latinized in charters, temp. Hen. I., as Vernacum." [1]

Many of the family arrived in England after the Conquest but not all as "Wigen de Verigny, or De Verincio, and Walter de Verney [were listed in] Normandy 1180-95 (Magni Rotuli Scaccarii Normanniae); also in 1198." [2]

This last author continues: "Philippus Vernei 1195. Vernai was near Bayeux, Normandy. Gerelinus de Vernai c. 1080 granted lands to St. Peter Conches (Gall. Christ. xi. 132, Instr.); and Ralph de Vernai about the same time held, jointly with Ralph de Toeni, lands at Bois-Raillate. Walter de Vernai occurs in Cambridge [England in ] 1158." [2]

"In our 13th-cent. rolls we find the forms (with prefixed de) Verney, Vernay, and Vernai. Vernay or Verney is naturally not an uncommon place-name in France." [3]

Early Origins of the Fernee family

The surname Fernee was first found in Gloucestershire where Robert de Vernai was listed in the Assize Rolls of 1221. [4]

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 included entries for: Lucya de Vernai, Oxfordshire; Simon de Vernay, Northamptonshire; and Ralph de Verney, Oxfordshire. [5]

Early History of the Fernee family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Fernee research. Another 136 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1419, 1465, 1478, 1465, 1563, 1630, 1586, 1642, 1620, 1648, 1613, 1696, 1661, 1649, 1668, 1640, 1717, 1590, 1642, 1590, 1599, 1616, 1649, 1613, 1696, 1584 and 1615 are included under the topic Early Fernee History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Fernee Spelling Variations

Anglo-Norman names are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. When the Normans became the ruling people of England in the 11th century, they introduced a new language into a society where the main languages of Old and later Middle English had no definite spelling rules. These languages were more often spoken than written, so they blended freely with one another. Contributing to this mixing of tongues was the fact that medieval scribes spelled words according to sound, ensuring that a person's name would appear differently in nearly every document in which it was recorded. The name has been spelled Varney, Verney and others.

Early Notables of the Fernee family (pre 1700)

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Sir Ralph Verney (d. 1478), Lord Mayor of London in 1465; Sir Richard Verney (1563-1630), an English landowner and politician; Greville Verney, 7th Baron Willoughby de Broke and de jure 15th Baron Latimer (1586-1642), an English politician; Greville Verney, 8th Baron Willoughby de Broke and de jure 16th Baron Latimer (ca. 1620-1648), an English peer; Sir Ralph Verney (1613-1696), created 1st Baronet Verney of Middle Claydon in 1661; Greville Verney, 9th Baron Willoughby de Broke and de jure 17th Baron Latimer (1649-1668), an English peer; and...
Another 94 words (7 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Fernee Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Fernee family to Ireland

Some of the Fernee family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Fernee migration to the United States +

For many English families, the political and religious disarray that plagued their homeland made the frontiers of the New World an attractive prospect. Thousands migrated, aboard cramped disease-ridden ships. They arrived sick, poor, and hungry, but were welcomed in many cases with far greater opportunity than at home in England. Many of these hardy settlers went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Among early immigrants bearing the name Fernee or a variant listed above were:

Fernee Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

George Fernee, aged 33, who arrived in Ellis Island, New York aboard the ship "New York" in 1903 [6]
George Fernee, aged 33, who arrived in New York in 1903 aboard the ship "New York" from Southampton, England [7]
Amy Fernee, aged 25, originally from London, England, who arrived in New York in 1914 aboard the ship "Saint Paul" from Southampton, England [8]
Lily Fernee, aged 19, who arrived in Ellis Island, New York aboard the ship "Saint Paul" in 1914 [6]
Amy Fernee, aged 25, who arrived in Ellis Island, New York aboard the ship "Saint Paul" in 1914 [6]
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Fernee migration to Australia +

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

Fernee Settlers in Australia in the 20th Century

Mr. A. Fernee, who arrived in Fremantle, Australia aboard the ship "Omar" in 1923 [9]
Anne Fernee, who arrived in Melbourne, Australia aboard the ship "Tai Yang" in 1949 [9]

Contemporary Notables of the name Fernee (post 1700) +

Ashley Fernee (b. 1977), former Australian rules footballer who played for Adelaide in 1996

The Fernee 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: Ung tout seul
Motto Translation: Only one.

Citations +

Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. 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)
Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
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)
Ellis Island Search retrieved 9th February 2023. Retrieved from https://heritage.statueofliberty.org/passenger-result
"New York Passenger Arrival Lists (Ellis Island), 1892-1924," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JF5V-YZH : 6 December 2014), George Fernee, 03 May 1903; citing departure port Southampton, arrival port New York, ship name New York, NARA microfilm publication T715 and M237 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
"New York Passenger Arrival Lists (Ellis Island), 1892-1924," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JJQ1-QT1 : 6 December 2014), Amy Fernee, 05 Mar 1914; citing departure port Southampton, England, arrival port New York, ship name Saint Paul, NARA microfilm publication T715 and M237 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
National Archives of Australia Retrieved 9th February 2023. Retrieved from https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ListingReports/PassengerListing.aspx