Messervy History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The distinguished surname Messervy originated in Cornwall, a region of southwest England that is celebrated in the Arthurian romances of the Middle Ages. Though surnames became common during medieval times, English people were formerly known only by a single name. The way in which hereditary surnames were adopted in medieval England is fascinating. As the population of Europe burgeoned, people began to assume an extra name to avoid confusion and to further identify themselves. Under the Feudal System of government, surnames evolved and they often reflected life on the manor and in the field. Despite the fact that occupational surnames are rare among the Cornish People, they nevertheless sometimes adopted surnames derived from the type of work they did. The surname Messervy was an occupational name for a harvester having derived from the Old French word messier, meaning harvester or reaper.

Early Origins of the Messervy family

The surname Messervy was first found in Jersey, one of the Channel Islands, where they held a family seat some say, before the Norman Conquest of England in 1066 A.D. by Duke William of Normandy at the Battle of Hastings.

As with many families from the Channel Islands, the name is a unique mixture of French and English words. And many migrated to Newfoundland where today the largest number of the family reside. Most hail from Sandy Point (St. George's Bay), Newfoundland. One of the first found was Captain Masservey of Harbour Grace in 1760. 1

Early History of the Messervy family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Messervy research. Another 151 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1685, 1760, 1861 and 1928 are included under the topic Early Messervy History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Messervy Spelling Variations

Cornish surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. The frequent changes in surnames are due to the fact that the Old and Middle English languages lacked definite spelling rules. The official court languages, which were Latin and French, were also influential on the spelling of a surname. Since the spelling of surnames was rarely consistent in medieval times, and scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded rather than adhering to any specific spelling rules, it was common to find the same individual referred to with different spellings of their surname in the ancient chronicles. Moreover, a large number of foreign names were brought into England, which accelerated and accentuated the alterations to the spelling of various surnames. Lastly, spelling variations often resulted from the linguistic differences between the people of Cornwall and the rest of England. The Cornish spoke a unique Brythonic Celtic language which was first recorded in written documents during the 10th century. However, they became increasingly Anglicized, and Cornish became extinct as a spoken language in 1777, although it has been revived by Cornish patriots in the modern era. The name has been spelled Messervy, Messerwy, Messervey, Misservy, Misservey, Meserwy, Messerwey, Messewey, Messewy, Messarmy, Messarmey, Masservy, Masserwy, Messerly and many more.

Early Notables of the Messervy family

Another 27 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Messervy Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Messervy migration to the United States +

Messervys were some of the first of the immigrants to arrive in North America:

Messervy Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Philip Messervy, aged 31, who arrived in America from the Channel Islands, in 1904
George P. Messervy, who arrived in America, in 1906
George P. Messervy, aged 65, who arrived in New York, in 1923
Harriet Messervy, aged 42, who arrived in Gladstone, N. J., in 1923

Messervy migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Messervy Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century

Carrie A.J. Messervy, aged 47, who arrived in Charlottetown, P.E.I., Canada, in 1911
John Albert Messervy, aged 49, who arrived in Charlottetown, P.E.I., Canada, in 1911
Robert Messervy, aged 25, who arrived in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, in 1923
Robert Benjamin Messervy, aged 25, who arrived in Charlottetown, P.E.I., Canada, in 1923
Philip C. Messervy, aged 52, who arrived in Montreal, Quebec, in 1924

Contemporary Notables of the name Messervy (post 1700) +

Mrs. John E. Messervy, American Republican politician, Member of Republican National Committee from South Carolina, 1940; Delegate to Republican National Convention from South Carolina, 1940, 1948, 1952
EP Messervy, of Jersey
John Albert Messervy (1861-1928), Newfoundland-born, Canadian industrialist and politician on Prince Edward Island who represented Queen's in the Canadian House of Commons from 1925 to 1926
Professor Albert Messervy, British Professor of Veterinary Surgery at Bristol University from Jersey, Channel Islands
General Sir Frank Walter Messervy (1893-1974), British officer in both the First and Second World Wars, first Commander of the Pakistan Army (1947-1948), General Officer Commanding in Chief Northern Command, India (1946-1947)

The Messervy 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: Au valeureux coeur rien impossible
Motto Translation: To the valiant heart, nothing is impossible.

Citations +

Seary E.R., Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland Montreal: McGill's-Queen's University Press 1998. Print. (ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)