Usseray History, Family Crest & Coats of ArmsThe name Usseray was brought to England in the wave of migration that followed the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Usseray family lived in Wiltshire. Their name, however, generally derives from the name of the area of Houssaye in the Seine-Maritime region of Normandy. Another equally valid but less common derivation shows that some in some cases the name finds its roots in the word hussey, which was a Old English nickname for a woman who was the head of her own household. "The surname is not to be associated with the modern meaning of hussy." 1 Looking again in Normandy, France, we found in the Rotuli Scaccarii Normanniae, "Osbert de Hussey, who was living in 1180, was so named from le Hozu, a fief in the parish of Grand Quevilly near Rouen. One Henry de la Hosse or Heuze held, inter alias, the lands of Hosse." 2 It was "found written De la Hossé or Heuzé, De Hosa, and De Hoese," at that time. 3 Early Origins of the Usseray familyThe surname Usseray was first found in the Domesday Book of 1086 where early Latin spellings of the name prevailed. Walter Hosed, William Hostus were both registered at that time. 4 Often, the name evolved to the name Hose as noted in 1225 where Hubert de Hoese (Hose or Hussey) was Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports (1235-c. 1241.) "William Hosed or Hostus held Charlcomb, in Somersetshire, of Bath Abbey, as well as other manors in the county: and the first lords of Bath-Eaton were of this family." 5 Henry Hoese, Huse was listed as a Knights Templar in Oxfordshire in 1153 and 1185. Geoffrey Hoset (Hose) was recorded in the Pipe Rolls for Warwickshire in 1168 and later, William Hose, Huse was found in the Assize Rolls for Gloucestershire in 1221. 1 Of particular interest is that two sources, a visitation of Dorset in 1623 and a manuscript in ancient French said to have been in the Abbey of Glastonbury at its dissolution, both mention Hubert Husse, a Norman noble who married Countess Helen, daughter of Richard the 5th Duke of Normandy. Both mention he accompanied William the Conqueror to England and was granted the office of High Constable together with considerable possessions for his efforts during the Conquest. "Certain it is that the family of Hussey appears among the great landed proprietors at a very early period, and soon attained a distinguished position in various parts of the Kingdom." 6 The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 listed Geoffrey Husey and Reginald Husey as holding lands in Wiltshire at that time. 7 "Hussey is an ancient name in Somerset and Wiltshire, and further particulars concerning its origin will be found under 'Wiltshire.' From the mediaeval Huse probably come the Wiltshire name of Howse and the Somerset name of House. However, the Husseys of Wilts were a powerful family during the 14th century, and traced their ancestry back to the Husees, of whom it is said that the original ancestor came over with the Conqueror." 8 Little Wyrley in Staffordshire was also another ancient family seat. " Wyrley Grove is the ancient seat of the Husseys, who obtained it in marriage with the heiress of the family of Fowke: the mansion stands at the head of a fine lawn, and is a noble and picturesque specimen of ancient architecture." 9 Early History of the Usseray familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Usseray research. Another 130 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1180, 1265, 1294, 1295, 1332, 1466, 1495, 1503, 1534, 1537, 1585, 1597, 1611, 1626, 1640, 1641, 1642, 1645, 1648, 1651, 1656, 1657, 1664, 1691 and 1734 are included under the topic Early Usseray History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Usseray 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 Usseray have been found, including Hussey, Houssey, Huzzy, Huzzey, Hose and others. Early Notables of the Usseray familyOutstanding amongst the family at this time was Henry Hussey (1265-1332), Sheriff of Surrey and Sussex, created 1st Baron Hussey in 1295.Sir William Hussey or Huse (d. 1495), was Chief Justice and was probably a son of the Sir Henry Huse who received a grant of free warren in the manor of Herting in Sussex in the eighth year of Henry VI. 10John Hussey Lord Hussey (1466?-1537), was the eldest son of Sir William Hussey [q. v.], by Elizabeth his wife; he is referred to as a knight in his mother's will, which is dated in 1503. 10Sir... Migration of the Usseray family to IrelandSome of the Usseray family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. Migration of the Usseray familyFor 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 Usseray were among those contributors: Stephen Hussey and his wife Theodate, who settled in Boston in 1632; Christopher Hussey, who settled in Boston in 1632; David Hussey, who came to Virginia in 1648.
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