Shairley History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The Anglo-Saxon name Shairley comes from when the family resided in the parish of Shirley found in the counties of Derbyshire, Surrey Hampshire and the West Midlands.

Early Origins of the Shairley family

The surname Shairley was first found in Derbyshire at Shirley, a parish, in the hundred of Appletree. "Shirley is so called from the Saxon, signifying 'a clear place or pasture;' and gives name to a family which has for ages been considered one of the most honourable in the county. Part of the lands still belong to the Shirleys, who are now represented by Earl Ferrers. The ancient Hall, now converted into a farmhouse, still retains features of its original character; and the moat by which it was surrounded is yet remaining. " 1

Also in the early history of the family, the hamlet of Hopewell in Derbyshire was of great significance. "The manor of 'Opewelle' was held by Ralph Fitz-Hubert, under the Bishop of Chester, at the time of the Domesday survey; in 1296 it was held by Ralph de Shirley, under the Earl of Lancaster." 1

Some of the family ventured to Herefordshire where they held Shurley Manor for centuries. Another branch was found at Staunton-Harrold in Leicestershire. The manor was passed to the Shirleys by marriage with the Staunton family, in 1423 and became property of Robert Shirley, 13th Baron Ferrers of Chartley, the first Earl Ferrers. That branch claim descent from George Shirley (died 1622) of Astwell Castle, Northamptonshire. Next we must explore Wiston in Sussex as that was the family seat of another branch of the family. "Wiston House, a mansion in the Elizabethan style, erected by Sir Thomas Shirley about 1576, has been taken down and rebuilt by the present proprietor. The church, situated in the park, is chiefly in the decorated style, and consists of a nave, chancel, and south aisle, at the east end of which is a sepulchral chapel; there are monuments to Sir William Shirley, Sir Thomas Shirley and his wife." 1

Early feudal rolls provided the king of the time a method of cataloguing holdings for taxation, but today they provide a glimpse into the wide surname spellings in use at that time. William de Schirle was listed in the Assize Rolls for Yorkshire in 1219; Ralph de Shirleye in the Feet of Fines for Warwickshire in 1318; and William Shirley in the Feet of Fines for Surrey in 1442. 2

The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 include: Johannes de Scherlay; and Willelmus de Scherlay as holding lands there at that time. 3

The Register of the University of Oxford included: George Shyrlye, Leicestershire, 1573; Anthony Sherlye, Sussex, 1579; and John Shurley, Sussex, 1582.

"A family of Shirley possessed large estates in Hanbury, Staffordshire, in the 16th century. The Shirleys of Eatington, Warwickshire, have an ancient pedigree. There were also old distinguished families of the name in Leicestershire." 4

Early History of the Shairley family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Shairley research. Another 217 words (16 lines of text) covering the years 1050, 1366, 1456, 1527, 1542, 1565, 1568, 1569, 1581, 1589, 1596, 1603, 1612, 1624, 1625, 1628, 1631, 1635, 1641, 1647, 1650, 1654, 1656, 1666, 1683, 1685, 1686, 1687, 1694, 1717, 1741, 1749, 1753, 1756, 1760 and 1771 are included under the topic Early Shairley History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Shairley Spelling Variations

The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries; therefore,spelling variations are common among early Anglo-Saxon names. As the form of the English language changed, even the spelling of literate people's names evolved. Shairley has been recorded under many different variations, including Shirley, Shurley, Sherley, Shirleigh and others.

Early Notables of the Shairley family

Notables of this surname at this time include: John Shirley (1366?-1456), the English translator and transcriber, said to have been the son of a squire who had travelled widely in foreign countries; Sir John Shurley (died 1527), an English noble who held the financial office of Cofferer to the King during the reign of Henry VIII; Sir John Shurley (1568-1631) was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons for Sussex in 1625; Major General Thomas Shirley, Governor of the Leeward Islands; Sir Thomas Shirley (1542-1612), of Wiston in Sussex, an English Member of Parliament and government official; Sir...
Another 140 words (10 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Shairley Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Shairley family to Ireland

Some of the Shairley family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 84 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Shairley family

For many English families, the political and religious disarray that shrouded England made the far away New World an attractive prospect. On cramped disease-ridden ships, thousands migrated to those British colonies that would eventually become Canada and the United States. Those hardy settlers that survived the journey often went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Shairley or a variant listed above: Robert Sherly settled in Maryland in 1633; Mary Shirley settled in New England in 1744; William Shirley settled in Boston, Massachusetts in 1740; he was of the Wiston, Sussex branch..

The Shairley 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: Honor virtutis praemium
Motto Translation: Honor is the reward of virtue.

Citations +

Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, 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)
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.