Nary Family Crest, Coat of Arms and Name History

Nary Origin:

Ireland

Origins of Nary:

Listed in many spelling forms including O’Neary, Neary, Nairy, Narrie, Naree, Nary, Narry, Nerrie, Norry, and Norrie, this is an Irish surname. It is only infrequently, if ever, appeared with the Gaelic O’ prefix which it looks to have lost in the 17th century. Like most Irish surnames, it starts from a description of the first chief of the tribe, one whose name was “Naraigh” which means simple. That in itself is unusual for an Irish surname. The majority was described either to the member of a particular early martyr, or to a nickname, or to a description of the chief’s courage as a warrior. In the Ireland of the 20th century, the surname is rare except in the county of Connacht, and particularly the divisions of Mayo and Roscommon. Early examples of the surname record include Donal “Boy” O’Nare, a famous character of the 16th century from County Kildare. He seems to have performed some fearful crimes including murder, although this was possibly in a fight, he certainly knew the right people because, in each example, he was granted a release. He was known as an “idleman,” a word which explained, and clearly without criticism, a gentleman. Rather less controversial was Father Cornelius Nary, 1658 -1738, and also from Kildare. He held some high posts within the Catholic parish in Germany, and for some years was a leader of the Irish College in Paris. He later came back to Ireland as the church priest of St Michan’s, in Dublin. The first known record of the surname may be that of Father Nicholas O’Naraighe, at the Irish College, St. Etienne, France, in the years 1503 – 1508.

Variations:

More common variations are: Neary, Narey, Narry, Nairy, Niary, Naray, Naery, Naury, Narya, Nyary.

England:

The surname Nary first appeared in Perth, where they held a family seat from old times, and their first recordings appeared on the early poll rolls derived by the early Kings of Britain to decide the rate of taxation of their subjects. The origin of surnames during this period became a necessity with the introduction of personal taxation. It came to be known as Poll Tax in England. Surnames all over the country began to develop, with unique and shocking spelling varieties of the original one.

Ireland:

Many of the people with surname Nary had moved to Ireland during the 17th century.

United States of America:

Individuals with the surname Nary landed in the United States in two different centuries respectively in the 17th and 18th. Some of the people with the name Nary who arrived in the United States in the 17th century included Elizabeth Nary, who came to Maryland in 1674.

The following century saw more Nary surnames arrive. Some of the people with the surname Nary who arrived in the United States in the 18th century included Gilbert Nary, who landed in South Carolina in 1772.

Here is the population distribution of the last name Nary: Cambodia 2,345; United Stat&s 590; Tanzania 146; India 91; Brazil 64; Switzerland 45; Australia 19; England 16; Madagascar 5; Algeria 2.

Notable People:

Cornelius Nary (1660–1738), was an Irish bishop and religious author.

Blazons & Genealogy Notes

Gu. on a fesse ar. three spearheads of the first, in chief as many annulets or.