Sherryng History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Scotland

The Sherryng surname was originally an occupational name 'the shearer' a cutter of cloth or denoting the occupation of shearing sheep. The name was derived from the Old English word 'sherer' which was in turn derived from the "Anglo-Saxon *Scíringas = (the Estate of the) Scír- Family [Old English scír, bright, white, brilliant + -ingas (dat. pl. -ingum)." 1

Early Origins of the Sherryng family

The surname Sherryng was first found in Essex at Sheering, a parish, in the union of Epping, hundred of Harlow where "the church is a small ancient edifice." 2

The place name dates back to about the Domesday Book of 1086 when it was first recorded as Sceringa 3 and literally meant "settlement of the family or followers of a man called *Scear(a) from the Old English personal name + "-ingas." 4

Conjecturally, the surname is descended from the tenant of the village and lands of Sheering, held by Peter de Vallognes, from Valognes, Manche in Normandy, a Norman noble who was recorded in the Domesday Book census of 1086. His father also held an old feoffment in Kent from the Avranches family.

Early rolls give us a glimpse of the many spelling in use over the years. Matilda le Scherheringe was listed in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 as holding lands in Lincolnshire. Richard le Schearere, was listed in County Yorkshire in 1300 and Johannes Wykir Shearinge and Oliver Searing were listed in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379. 5

The name was taken to Scotland at an early date and John Cissor was burgess of Dunfermline in 1316. William Scharing was the bailie of Berwick in 1324, and Johannes Scherar was baillie and burgess of Aberdeen in the year 1399. William Schering was proprietor of a tenemant in Dundee in 1427, and another William Sherar was burgess of Aberdeen in 1451. Ando Scherare was parishioner of Kinkell in 1473, and Johannes Scherare was archdeacon of Ross in 1503. A family of the name appeared in Strathblane early in the 17th century, and John Scharrar was 'watchman in ye castell' of Stirling in 1587. 6

Early History of the Sherryng family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Sherryng research. Another 62 words (4 lines of text) covering the year 1327 is included under the topic Early Sherryng History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Sherryng Spelling Variations

Endless spelling variations are a prevailing characteristic of Norman surnames. Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules, and the introduction of Norman French added an unfamiliar ingredient to the English linguistic stew. French and Latin, the languages of the court, also influenced spellings. Finally, Medieval scribes generally spelled words according to how they sounded, so one person was often referred to by different spellings in different documents. The name has been spelled Sheering, Shearing, Sherring, Sherrin, Sherryn and many more.

Early Notables of the Sherryng family

More information is included under the topic Early Sherryng Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Sherryng family

To escape the political and religious persecution within England at the time, many English families left for the various British colonies abroad. The voyage was extremely difficult, though, and the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving. But for those who made it, the trip was most often worth it. Many of the families who arrived went on to make valuable contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families reveals a number of immigrants bearing the name Sherryng or a variant listed above: the name represented in many forms and recorded from the mid 17th century in the great migration from Europe. Migrants settled in the eastern seaboard from Newfoundland, to Maine, to Virginia, the Carolinas, and to the islands..

Citations +

Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)