Henry Coat of Arms, Family Crest and Henry Family History

Henry Family History

The Henry ancient family history was found in the irishsurnames.com archives. Meaning 'the son of Henry', this is a baptismal name. Variants include Henryson, Hendry, Hendrie, Hendrick, Hendricks, Hendry, Hendrey, Hendrickson, Hendriks and Henery. Hendry is still a common provincialism of Henry. This name was introduced to England by the Normans in the form of Henri during the middle ages, the name becoming very popular, being borne by eight Kings. Henry is thus 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 Willemus Henryson who was recorded in the 'Poll Tax' of the West Riding of Yorkshire in the year 1379 and a Thomas Henryes, Somerset, who was recorded in the ancient document 'Kirby's Quest' in the reign of Edward III. In Scotland the name is popular in Ayr and Fife. A William Henry was a witness in Perth in the year 1551. In Ireland the name Henry is derived from the Gaelic Mac éinrí sept, who were a Siol Eoghain family, and from Mac Einri, which was often anglicized as Fitzhenry. Henry is also a variant form of the name McEniry. The Henry 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 Henry descendants.