Origin of Surname
That the family name comes from a French fief is not in doubt. How that originated is not known.
Early records
As shown by Payne, below, the Lerrier family in Jersey originated with a Seigneur from Anjou who fled with his family to Jersey after being on the losing side in a battle in Brittany in the late 15th century.
Payne's Armorial of Jersey
In the province of Anjou, few, if any, Sirautés have a greater antiquity than that of Lerrier.
Among the partizans of the Duke of Orleans in the struggles for pre-eminence, terminated by the decisive battle of St Aubin-du-Cormier, so fatal to the pretensions of the Duke, was Joseph-Marie Desouches, Seigneur of Lerrier, Vaucoulers, and other fiefs. In the charge that caused the final rout of the Bretons, three of his sons sealed their convictions with their blood; and the Seigneur of Lerrier, seeing naught save ruthless persecution awaiting the advocates of the losing side, took ship at a neighbouring port, and set sail for Jersey. He was accompanied by his wife, and an only surviving and infant son.
Here, by the sale of some family jewels, he purchased, in 1495, an estate at St Saviour, leaving for confiscation all his rich manors in France. This estate remained, for several generations, in the possession of his descendants.
The family which, in two branches, represents the very ancient Norman house of de Gascoing, Seigneurs of Ver, Valencey, Launcey, de la Motte, and Jere, is represented by John Francis Lerrier, and in a junior branch by Durell Lerrier, Jurat of the Royal Court of Jersey, whose varied and extensive acquirements, impartiality in the administration of justice, and private virtues, justify the respect and confidence with whieh he is regarded by all classes of his countrymen.
Family records
Family trees
Church records
- Lerrier baptisms in Jersey
- Lerrier marriages in Jersey (groom)
- Lerrier marriages in Jersey (bride)
- Lerrier burials in Jersey
Notable family members
- Durell Lerrier, founder president of La Société Jersiaise
Family wills
These wills created by members of the Lerrier family are now held by Jersey Archive. By visiting the archive site and using the names, dates and reference numbers shown here, it is possible to view a copy of each will. You will have to subscribe to the Archive's online service to do this. To find out more about this collection, which covers the period from 1663 to 1980, and how to search for your family's wills there, visit our Jersey wills page
- Ann Lerrier, widow of Jean Durell, bequeaths to the Society for the PP Clergy £40, to the Jersey Union Infant School £20, to the Infirm and Aged Women £10, to St Lukes Free School £10, to St Clement's Sunday School £5, to the Home £5, to the Jersey National School £10 2 codicils added in 1865 - 22 February 1866, D/Y/A/33
- Charles Lerrier 30 May 1846 - D/Y/A/26
- Durell Lerrier of St Helier, bequeaths to the Industrial School 300 francs in French rentes, to the Jersey Library 500 francs in French rentes, to Grouville Sunday School 100 francs in French rentes, to Victoria College 100 francs in French rentes, to purchase books for French lessons - 14 June 1876, D/Y/A/39
- Elizabeth Lerrier of St Clement - 17 May 1886, D/Y/A/45
- Françoisse Lerrier, widow of Edouard Valpy 5 February 1737 - D/Y/A/6
- Jean Lerrier of St Helier, desires to be buried at 5 am or 7 pm, bequeaths to 4 fathers of poor families in St Helier who carry his coffin, 1 gold Louis each, to the poor of St Helier, £24 of French currency 4 October 1803 - D/Y/A/16
- Philip Lerrier of St Helier, merchant, bequeaths to Philip Lerrier, £400 in 3% reduced annuities makes further bequests of annuities, to the General Hospital, £30 sterling 27 November 1805 - D/Y/A/16
- Thomas Lerrier of St Helier, desires to be buried in St Helier's Cemetery, bequeaths to the poor of St Helier, £5 15 February 1847 - D/Y/A/26
Burial records
Family homes
- Le Câtillon de Haut, Grouville
Lerrier seals
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New records
Since August 2020 we have added several thousand new records from the registers of Roman Catholic, Methodist and other non-conformist churches. These will appear in date order within a general search of the records and are also individually searchable within the database search form
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