Show ContentsAvary History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Avary

What does the name Avary mean?

The ancient Anglo-Saxon surname Avary came from the given name Averary. For example, the first recorded instance of the name is Rogerus filius Averary. His name means Rogerus son of Averary. Over time, the name changed until it achieved its modern form.

One distinguished source notes: "This is a name which may claim its origin with nearly equal probability from several distinct sources, which I shall briefly enumerate. I. Aviarim, a keeper of the birds. The Forest Charter (s. 14,) enacts that freemen may have in their woods "avyries of sparhawkes, falcons, eagles, and herons." II. A very, the place where forage for the king's horses was kept; either from the Latin avena, Anglo-Norman haver, oats, or from aver, a northern provincialism for a working horse. III. Alberic, a German personal name, Latinized Albericus, and softened in Norman times to Aubrey. " 1

Early Origins of the Avary family

The surname Avary was first found in the county of Northumberland where they held a family seat from very ancient times. Rogerus filius Averary resided in the year 1166, and held manors and estates. 2

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 had two entries of the family with very early spellings: Hugh filius Auveray, Nottinghamshire; and Ralph Averey, Oxfordshire. 3

One branch of the family was found in Egginton, Derbyshire from ancient times. "The church [of Egginton], an ancient structure with a nave, chancel, aisles, and a neat low tower, contains several monuments to the Every family, and has some remains of stained glass." 4

Further down in the parish of Lansallos, Cornwall, another branch of the family was found. "The manor of Tregavithick was purchased of the Avery family in 1751, by the Rev. Joshua Howell, father of the Rev. J. F. Howell, one of the canons residentiary of Exeter, the present proprietor." 5 There is no mention of how long the Avery family held the manor.

Early History of the Avary family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Avary research. Another 111 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1275, 1526, 1548, 1588, 1596, 1620, 1643, 1653, 1654, 1664, 1679, 1690, 1696, 1700, 1766, 1775, 1794, 1799, 1800, 1804, 1808 and 1866 are included under the topic Early Avary History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Avary 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. Avary has been recorded under many different variations, including Avery, Averie, Avary, Every, MacAvera and others.

Early Notables of the Avary family

Notables of the family at this time include

  • Henry Every, also Avery or Avary, (c. 1653-after 1696), sometimes given as John Avery, was an English pirate who operated in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans in the mid-1690s, one of the few major pirat...

Migration of the Avary family to Ireland

Some of the Avary family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Avary migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Avary Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Anthony Avary, (b. 1813), aged 36, Cornish shoe maker from Liskeard, Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship "Sea" arriving in New South Wales, Australia on 29th September 1849 6
  • Mrs. Tamson Avary, (b. 1812), aged 37, British settler from Guernsey, UK travelling aboard the ship "Sea" arriving in New South Wales, Australia on 29th September 1849 6
  • Mr. James Avary, (b. 1839), aged 10, British settler from Guernsey, UK travelling aboard the ship "Sea" arriving in New South Wales, Australia on 29th September 1849 6
  • Mr. William Avary, (b. 1842), aged 7, British settler from Guernsey, UK travelling aboard the ship "Sea" arriving in New South Wales, Australia on 29th September 1849 6
  • Mr. Charles Avary, (b. 1844), aged 5, British settler from Guernsey, UK travelling aboard the ship "Sea" arriving in New South Wales, Australia on 29th September 1849 6
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Avary (post 1700) +

  • Roger Roberts Avary (b. 1965), Canadian-born motion picture director, producer, and Oscar-winning screenwriter


  1. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  2. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  3. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  4. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  5. Hutchins, Fortescue, The History of Cornwall, from the Earliest Records and Traditions to the Present Time. London: William Penaluna, 1824. Print
  6. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, May 30). Ships' Passenger Lists of Arrivals in New South Wales on (1828 - 1842, 1848 - 1849) [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_nsw_1838_on.pdf


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