Show ContentsVaray History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Varay family

The surname Varay was first found in Norfolk where "Osberno Verrer" witnesses a grant of the younger William de Albini, Earl of Arundel, of some land at Quiddenham in Norfolk to Reading Abbey; and about 1272 Robert and Roger le Verer, of Essex, occur in the Rotuli Hundredorum. Walkeline le Werreer gave the advowson of the church of Winfrith (afterwards Winfrith-Newburgh) to Glastonbury Abbey, between 1102 and 1120; which grant was confirmed by his nephew, William de Glastonia, and afterwards by Robert de Newburgh, who describes the two preceding benefactors as his "ancestors." 1

"Hamonis Verrarii " was one of the benefactors of St. Alban's Abbey that are alluded to in King John's confirmation charter. A family of the name long existed at Sandwich in Kent, where, within the altar rails of St. Mary's Church, and at the west end of the nave, "are memorials of many of the family of Verrier, of this town." 1

Early History of the Varay family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Varay research. Another 95 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1273, 1455, 1487, 1603, 1664 and 1685 are included under the topic Early Varay History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Varay Spelling Variations

Sound was what guided spelling in the essentially pre-literate Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Also, before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Therefore, spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Varay family name include Verrer, Verrier, Verriour, Veryet, Verieur, Verry and many more.

Early Notables of the Varay family

Distinguished members of the family include William Verrier, Mayor of Sandwich in 1664; and John Verrier one of the Cinque Port Barons elected to support the Royal Canopy at James II.'s coronation in 1685. The dress of...
Another 37 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Varay Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Varay family

For political, religious, and economic reasons, thousands of English families boarded ships for Ireland, Canada, the America colonies, and many of smaller tropical colonies in the hope of finding better lives abroad. Although the passage on the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving, those families that survived the trip often went on to make valuable contributions to those new societies to which they arrived. Early immigrants bearing the Varay surname or a spelling variation of the name include: Thomas Very who was among the very first settlers arriving in the colonies, when he went to New England in 1647; or Margaret Very who went to Maryland in 1676. Issac Very arrived in Virginia in the year 1700. James Verrier was brought to America as a convict, and left to do the best he could with himself in a new land in 1769. Jane Verrier arrived in Baltimore, at the age of 36.



  1. Cleveland, Dutchess of The Battle Abbey Roll with some Account of the Norman Lineages. London: John Murray, Abermarle Street, 1889. Print. Volume 3 of 3


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