This unusual and interesting surname is derived from the Middle English, Old French given name "Aubri", itself coming from the Germanic personal name "Alberic", composed of the elements "alb" meaning elf plus "ric", power, hence, "elf-ruler". It may also come from the much rarer female name "Albreda", composed of the Germanic elements "alb", plus "red", counsel, "elf-counsel". Finally, it may be derived from the Olde English pre 7th Century personal name "Aelfric", composed of the elements "oelf", elf, plus "ric" meaning kingdom, hence "elf-kingdom". The surname dates back to the late 13th Century (see below). Further recordings include one John Aubri (1308) in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire. Variations in the idiom of the spelling include Aubr(a)y, Alfr(e)y, Affery, Avery, and Avory. George Averye was christened on June 9th 1573, at Christchurch, Grayfriars, Newgate, and Anne, daughter of Wylliam Avery, was christened on September 22nd 1577, at St. Giles, Cripplegate, London. One William Avery, a famine emigrant, sailed from Liverpool to New York aboard the "Reliance", on May 6th 1846. A Coat of Arms granted to the Avery family of Fillongley, Warwickshire, in 1579, is an ermine shield, on a pale engrailed azure, three lions' heads couped gold. A silver lynx couchant bezantee ducally gorged gold, is on the Crest. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Geoffrey Aubri, which was dated 1273, in the "Subsidy Rolls of Cambridgeshire", during the reign of King Edward 1, known as "The Hammer of the Scots", 1272 - 1307. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

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