Barry Coat of Arms, Family Crest and Barry Family History

Barry Family History

The ancient origin of the name Barry was found in the irishsurnames.com archives.

Surnames developed a wide number of variants over the centuries. Many different spelling variations of the same name can be traced back to a single original root. Also, when a bearer of a name emigrated from Ireland it was not uncommon that their original name would be incorrectly transcribed in the record books upon arrival at their new location. Some names have dozens of spelling variations. Some Surnames were also altered over the years based on how they sounded phonetically, by their sound, and depending on the prevailing political conditions it may have been advantageous to change a name from one language to another. This was especially so in Ireland where most Gaelic names were 'anglicized' at some stage.

Variants of the name Barry include Barrie and Barrey. Meaning 'spearlike', this name is of Anglo-Norman descent spreading to Ireland, Scotland and Wales in early times and is found in many mediaeval manuscripts in these countries. Examples of such are a William Barry of Buckinghamshire, England, who was recorded in the 'Hundred Rolls' in the year 1273. In Scotland a William de Barry was collector of contributions in Gowry sub Yleff in 1360. In Ireland the name was introduced following the Anglo-Norman invasion and can be regarded there as essentially Irish. They formed several Septs, the Chiefs of which were Barry Mor, Barry Og and Barry Roe. The first to arrive in this country was Philip de Barri, in the year 1179, who obtained grants of land in Barrymore, Orrery and Kinelea. Since the twelfth century the family has been seated in County Cork and in the present day half of the Irish Barrys are still found there.The Barry family crest (or coat of arms) came into existence many centuries ago. The process of creating these coats of arms began as early as the eleventh century although a form of Proto-Heraldry may have existed in some countries prior to this, including Ireland. The new more formalized art of Heraldry made it possible for families and even individual family members to have their very own family crest, coat of arms, including Barry descendants.