Surname Terrey - Meaning and Origin

Terrey: What does the surname Terrey mean?

The last name Terrey is of French origin. It is derived from the Old French term "terrier," which means "burrow" or more generally a ground or landholder. The surname Terrey was initially used as a nickname in Medieval France for someone who was a bit of a hoarder or liked to burrow away their possessions, similar to how a terrier dog behaves. Over time, this nickname solidified into a hereditary surname used by families. Furthermore, the surname might have been given to individuals who owned the land or had legal rights to it. Therefore, the name Terrey signifies the characteristics of a person who is possessive, protecting their belongings, or even a ground or landowner. Please note that surnames' meanings can vary within different cultural and regional contexts, and over time their original meanings can be lost or evolve.

Terrey: Where does the name Terrey come from?

The surname Terrey is derived from Old French origin and is more common in the United Kingdom and Australia.

In the UK, places with the highest concentration of people bearing the Terrey surname are the counties of Lancashire, Yorkshire, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and Suffolk. In England, approximately 0.0012% of the population bears this name.

In Australia there are more residents with the Terrey surname, thanks to the country’s history with the UK. Brisbane has the highest concentration of Terrey’s, and it is believed that most of these individuals are descended from immigrants who arrived in the 19th century. Approximately 0.0014% of the Australian population have this surname.

The Terrey surname can also be found in countries such as France, Switzerland, Germany and Canada, though in much smaller concentrations.

Though it was historically a farming or agricultural surname, the surname Terrey is no longer concentrated in rural areas. It can be found all over the world today, usually among descendants of early UK immigrants, those with French or Swiss heritage, or simply those with an interest in genealogy.

Variations of the surname Terrey

The surname Terrey is derived from the Old French given name Thierry. Variations of this surname can include Terry, Terrie, Terri, Teri, Terrella, Tirey, Tirrell, Torrey, Tarrey, Torri, Tory, Tori, Terriell, Tarriell, Terril, Terrill, Tirrill, and Terrilli.

Terry, the most commonly used spelling today, first appeared in England during the 1200s when the name Thierry was imported from the French. This name eventually changed to Terry, especially in the northwest region of England.

Other spellings of the surname appear to be derived from the Old French or Norman languages. These spellings include Torrey, coming from the Old French Torrei, Terri, derived from Thiery, and Tirrell, coming from Tierrel.

In addition, some people changed the spelling of the surname to their own preference. This includes variations such as Tory, Terill, and Tarrill.

Due to the many variants, the surname Terrey can be found in many different forms today. However, no matter how you spell it, whoever has the Terrey surname can trace their roots to the same original source: the Old French given name Thierry.

Famous people with the name Terrey

• Paul Terry: English footballer
• Sandy Terry: American advanced practice registered nurse
• Nancy Terrey: American botanical artist
• Jody Terrey: Canadian songwriter
• Graham Terrey: English footballer
• Mark Terrey: American actor
• George Terrey: Australian recipient of the Victoria Cross
• James Terrey: World War II spy and American intelligence officer
• Janet Terrey: English teacher and author
• Jonathan Terrey: American author, professor, and environmental historian

Other surnames

Terrell