Show ContentsFlyer History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Flyer family

The surname Flyer was first found in Devon where they held a family seat "at Floyer-Hayes, in the parish of St. Thomas in that county, soon after the Norman Conquest." 1 The estate remained in the family until the latter part of the 17th century.

"Burke says, that the pedigree of the Floyers of co. Dorset is 'authentically deduced from Floierus, who settled soon after the Norman Conquest on the lands beyond the river Exe, co. Devon, whence the name of Floiers-Landa and Floiers-Hayes.' " 2

Early History of the Flyer family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Flyer research. Another 201 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1080, 1091, 1399, 1455, 1487, 1510, 1567, 1600, 1649, 1664, 1668, 1671, 1674, 1680, 1685, 1686, 1701, 1734 and 1815 are included under the topic Early Flyer History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Flyer Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years, the English language had no fast system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations are commonly found in early Anglo-Saxon surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Flyer were recorded, including Floyer, Floyar, Fleyer, Fleyar, Floier, Flyer and many more.

Early Notables of the Flyer family

Distinguished members of the family include Sir John Floyer (1649-1734), English physician and writer of Hints Hall, Staffordshire, a since demolished country house. He was the son of Richard Floyer of Hintes, Staffordshire. "He entered as commoner of Queen's College, Oxford, at the beginning of 1664, being then fifteen years of age. He was B.A. 16 April 1668, M.A. 1671, B.M. 27 June 1674, B.M...
Another 65 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Flyer Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


New Zealand Flyer migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Flyer Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • William Flyer, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1842


The Flyer 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: Floret virtus vulnerata
Motto Translation: Wounded virtue flourishes.


  1. Shirley, Evelyn Philip, The Noble and Gentle Men of England; The Arms and Descents. Westminster: John Bower Nichols and Sons, 1866, Print.
  2. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print


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