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The NORMANDY VARLEY Story
 | Judith VARLEY, juv@liverpool.ac.uk.
I am one of a family of 3 from near Manchester, England. I have 2
brothers, David, now living in Llandudno, North Wales, and Brian,
now living in Stourbridge, West Midlands, England.
Our father Harry VARLEY was born in 1899 in
Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire, and he was one of 3 brothers and a sister, Arthur,
Joe, Harry and Annice. My children, a boy Dominic and a girl Marion have their
fathers' surnames, so the only remaining Varley in the next generation is my brother's
(David's) son, David.
As I understand it, the name comes from Normandy originally, so it will be of Viking
origin (Norman being men of the North), rather than 'native French'. I understand
the Norman settlement of that part of France was from about 500 AD onwards. This
means that my ancestors probably came to England with William the Conqueror in 1066, and
mainly located in the NorthEast of the country - the nucleus of the name tends still to be
in North Yorkshire, Durham and Northumberland. (It is only since 1945 - 60 that many
people have moved extensively in this country, unless they were deported or banished for
some misdemeanour.)
My grandfather, Edward ran away to sea from Middlesborough before
reluctantly marrying in about 1890 I would guess and setting up home in Ashton-under-Lyne.
My Dad told me of a cousin of his who used to be fire-chief for Blackpool, but was
dismissed for hiring a helicopter to return and command the fighting of a large fire in
the borough. The same chap also devised the fire-engine design we use in England.
I think Dad said he went off to New Zealand to command the fire service there.
I do not know his name, and this information is purely anecdotal.
By the way, I teach in Liverpool University. |
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