This surname is derived from a geographical locality. 'the Noreis,' the northern, the man from the North: sometimes meaning a Norwegian, but generally the 'north countree.' (a) Offic. 'the nurse.' Middle English nories. v. Nurse.

Thomas le Noreis, 1273. Hundred Rolls.

Robert le Norys. Calendarium Inquisitionum Post Mortem.

Walter le Noreis, 1313. Writs of Parliament.

1570. Edward Norries, Lancashire: Register of the University of Oxford.

1766 Married — John Norriss and Mary McClary: St. George, Hanover Square.

From OF. (le)Noreis, Noreys, 'Northman,' 'Northerner,' Irish Latin record, Norrensis. Robert le Norreis witnessed a cherter by Earl Gospatric to the Priory of Coldingham, a. 1166 (CCPC., p. 8). William Norrensis witnessed a charter by Malcolm, earl of Fife, a. 1228 (CMN., 9), Malcolm Norhais was a witness in 1237 (ibid., 17), and Gilbert Noreis, a charter witness, c. 1250 (RPSA., p. 388-9). John 'le Norreys' was one of an inquisition to inquire if Walter Biset was seized in the manor of Ulvington at his death, 1251 (Bain, I, 1830). Richard Norreys of Berwickshire rendered homage, 1296 (Bain, II, p. 206). John dictus Nurys, burgess of Dundee, 1321 (HP., II, p. 225), and John Noreys, a Scot born at Montrose, had letters of denization in England, 1480 (Bain, IV, 1465).

The modern form of Norreys, which see.

(Anglo-French-Teut.) Northman; Northerner [Old French Noreis, Noreys, Norreis, Nor(r)ois, Northman, Northerner; Nor- + eis, Latin -ensis] Hugh le Norreis.—Charter Rolls, A.D. 1199.

Thomas le Noreys.—Hund. Rolls, A.D. 1274.

Walter le Noreis.—Parl. Writs, A.D. 1313.

Robert le Norreys.—Cal. Inq. PM., A.D. 1327.

Cp. Norris.

“Petrus Norreis” is found in the Norman Exchequer Rolls, about 1198, and several of the name in England at the same date. “Henry le Norreys was seized of estates in Notts, which on his death King John granted to Alan le Norreys, his brother.” —The Norman People. From him (according to the same authority) came the Norreys’ of Speke in Lancashire, whom Dugdale affirms to be the ancestors of the Lords Norris of Rycote and the Earl of Berkshire, now represented by the Berties. “They were,” he says, “of Speke, in com. Lanc. long before King Edward the Third’s time, and most of them Knights.” John, the second son of Sir Henry Norris of Speke, is said to have lived in 1361 at Bray, in Berkshire, where he was succeeded by a son and a grandson.

But I fear that “those gentle historians who dip their pens in nothing but the milk of human kindness” (as Edmund Burke aptly describes the heralds), have dissimulated the true origin of the Lords Norris. Their undoubted ancestor was Richard de Norreys, the favourite cook of Henry III.’s Queen, Eleanor of Provence, who was rewarded in 1267 by a grant of the manor of Ocholt in Berk­shire, "subject to a fee farm rent of 40s., and stated to have been an encroach­ment from the forest”—Lysons. One of his descendants, John, who impartially served the Red and White Rose, having been Master of the Wardrobe to Henry VI., and Esquire of the Body to Edward IV., built the present mansion of Ockwell during the former reign. "A large bay window full of coats of arms in stained glass, shows those of the abbey of Abingdon, with the mitre, and of the family of Norreys, several times repeated, with their motto 'Feythfully serve'.” - Ibid. The line, which could boast of some very gallant soldiers, ended with Francis, second Lord Norreys, who was created Earl of Berkshire by James I., and the barony passed through his grand-daughter, Bridget Wray, to the Berries. Her son was the first Earl of Abingdon.

Anciently written Le Noreis, Norres, Noreys, &c., and in Latin charters, Noricus, Norensis, &c. It is widely spread both in Normandy and England, and may imply either North-countryman or the Norwegian. Ormerod's Miscell. Palatina, p. 6. Gaimar applies the term to the Norwegians whom Harold defeated at Stamford Bridge.

Norroy, or north—king; a title given, in England, to the third king—at—arms. Norrie, French, a foster—child.

Norman: a Northman; but Norris is sometimes la nourrice, the nurse.

Norris is a name that has now its principal homes in Lancashire and Somerset. In the 13th century it was frequent in the forms of Noreys, Norreys, Norries, and Norrays, often preceded by "Le," in Notts, Oxfordshire, Norfolk, Yorkshire, Cambridgeshire, Hunts, Backs, etc. (H. R.).