Terry Surname Meaning & Origin
What the Terry last name means, where the surname began and how it spread.
Order your pack and our heraldry team researches and paints the Terry coat of arms for you.
Meaning and origin of the Terry last name
Meaning of the Terry last name: from Thierry (Theodoric). Terry comes from the Norman personal name Thierry, the French form of the old Germanic Theodoric, meaning ruler of the people. It spread across England after the Conquest and later took root in Ireland, especially around Cork. A curious detail: the name has nothing to do with terry cloth, whose name probably comes from a different French word.
Arms associated with the Terry name
Medieval English knights painted their arms on shields and surcoats so they could be recognised in battle, a tradition the Terry name belongs to.
Get your full Terry family history
This is only a glimpse of the Terry story. The full Terry history report goes much deeper into where the name began, who carried it and how the family spread, and it comes with a museum-style painted Terry coat of arms. Get the full Terry report.
Terry name FAQ
What does the Terry name mean?
From Thierry (Theodoric). Common variants include Terrey, Tirrey, Thierry.
Where does the Terry surname come from?
It originates in England, and is also found in the United States, Ireland and Australia.
Is there a Terry coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals rather than to everyone with a surname. Herald Lab paints a personalized Terry coat of arms in museum style, based on historic heraldry.
Researched by Herald Lab Research Studio, since 1993. Sources: Reaney & Wilson, Dictionary of English Surnames; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford); US Census Bureau 2010.