| ![Show Contents]() Searcy History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The name Searcy was brought to England in the wave of migration that followed the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Searcy family lived in Essex. Their name, however, is a reference to St. Saire, Normandy, the family's place of residence prior to the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. Alternatively, the name could have been a trade name for someone who was "an assayer of metals." 1 And another variation is that it could have been "an Anglo-Norman personal name, as Saher de Quincy, the famous Earl of Winchester." 1 There are at least three other listed origins of the name, but these latter three seem the most probable. Early Origins of the Searcy familyThe surname Searcy was first found in Essex where the family's first listing of the name was found during the reign of Edward II. 1 Omitting the entries as a personal name, we also found: Stephanus filius Seir (1148-1152) and ? filius Saheri (Saieri) c. 1160 in Lincolnshire. Robertus filius Seer was listed in the 12th century in Nottinghamshire and Richard Sayer was listed in the Pipe Rolls of Devon in 1230. Thomas Sare and John Sayer were listed in the Feet of Fines of Essex in 1292. 2 The Thayer variant produced the Pilgrim Fathers and brothers Thomas Thayer (1596-1665) and Richard Thayer (1601-1664) who were born in Thornbury, Devon. The family were originally from Glastonbury, Somerset, the oldest found was John Tahyer, born c. 1450. Early History of the Searcy familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Searcy research. Another 116 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1560, 1602, 1603, 1625, 1631, 1655, 1695, 1705, 1718 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Searcy History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Searcy Spelling VariationsSpelling variations in names were a common occurrence in the eras before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate regularly changed the spellings of their names as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Searcy have been found, including Sayer, Sayers, Sayres and others. Early Notables of the Searcy familyOutstanding amongst the family at this time was Robert Sayer or Seare (1560-1602), a Benedictine monk, born at Redgrave, Suffolk, the son of John Seare; Sir John Sayer of Bourchers Hall in Essex; and his son, George Sayer (c. 1655-1718), an English courtier and politician, Member of Parliament...
Another 47 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Searcy Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Searcy RankingIn the United States, the name Searcy is the 3,156th most popular surname with an estimated 9,948 people with that name. 3 Migration of the Searcy family to IrelandSome of the Searcy family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 61 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
| Searcy migration to the United States | + |
For many English families, the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. For such families, the shores of Ireland, Australia, and the New World beckoned. They left their homeland at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. Many arrived after the long voyage sick, starving, and without a penny. But even those were greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. Numerous English settlers who arrived in the United States and Canada at this time went on to make important contributions to the developing cultures of those countries. 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 Searcy were among those contributors:
Searcy Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- Annie R. Searcy, aged 19, who settled in America, in 1895
Searcy Settlers in United States in the 20th Century- J.B. Searcy, aged 64, who immigrated to America, in 1905
- Mrs. J.B. Searcy, aged 65, who landed in America, in 1905
- William Searcy, who settled in America from U, in 1906
- Daniel Searcy, aged 28, who immigrated to the United States, in 1907
- Drake Searcy, aged 37, who landed in America, in 1917
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
| Searcy migration to Australia | + |
Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include: Searcy Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century- F. Searcy, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Louisa Baillie" in 1849 4
- William Searcy, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Louisa Baillie" in 1849 4
| Contemporary Notables of the name Searcy (post 1700) | + |
- Richard Searcy (1794-1832), American born in Tennessee. He was involved in founding the town of Batesville as the county seat of Independence County from 1821 to 1822. He was a judge of the circuit court 1821 to 1825. In 1827 and 1829, campaigned to be the congressional delegate to the U.S. Congress. On November 5, 1835, the Territorial Legislature of Arkansas named Searcy County in his honor but changed it to Marion County a year later. In 1838, when Marion County was split, the newly created county was again given the name Searcy. On November 23, 1837, the Arkansas General Assembly named the county seat of White County in honor of Richard Searcy
- Robert J. Searcy (1921-2009), American member of the Tuskegee Airmen
- Brigadier-General Cyrus Higginson Searcy (1895-1963), American Chief of Staff, VIII Corps (1943-1945) 5
- Nelson Searcy (b. 1971), American evangelical minister and author
- Dr. J. T. Searcy, American first superintendant of what became the eponymous Searcy Hospital, Mount Vernon, Alabama
- William Steven Searcy (b. 1964), American retired Major League Baseball pitcher
- Leon Searcy (b. 1969), American football coach and former NFL football player
- Peter Searcy, American musician from Louisville, Kentucky
- Nick Searcy (b. 1959), American actor, best known for his role as Chief Deputy United States Marshal Art Mullen on FX's Justified
- Robert Benjamin "R.B." Searcy (1901-1967), American politician, Mayor of Huntsville, Alabama from 1952 to 1964
- ... (Another 1 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
| Historic Events for the Searcy family | + |
- Mr. Blanchard T Searcy (1966-1985), American Private 1st Class from Sylvester, Georgia, USA who died in the Arrow Air Flight 1285 crash 6
- Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
- Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
- "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
- State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) The LOUISA BAILLIE 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849LouisaBaillie.htm
- Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2014, March 26) Cyrus Searcy. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Searcy/Cyrus_Higginson/USA.html
- American War Memorials - Flight 1285. (Retrieved 2016, August 24) . Retrieved from http://www.uswarmemorials.org/html/monument_details.php?SiteID=317&MemID=550
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