Hi everyone - I'm trying to find out whether SULLEY is originally Huguenot, possibly through SULLY. As late as the 1881 census some of my direct ancestors were listed as SULLY, and before that the "E" seems to have been optional. I'm as far back as Joseph Sulley/Sully who is SULLEY on his 1794 marriage certificate but SULLY on the "Market Harborough list of tradesmen" (he was a tailor). Any info gratefully received, Robert

Hi Robert

My ancestor on my mother's side was John Sully a weaver who married a Huguenet, Susannah Eude in Christchurch Spitalfields East London in 1774. I have established that Susannah's grandfather was Jacques Eude who came to England from the Coutances area of Normandy in about 1685/90. I have not yet been able to trace John Sully's parents - there are rumours that they may have been Huguenots who came to London in the earlier persecution in th 1580's but so far no proof. The Sully name I have found mainly in two places 1) in North Somerset around Minehead and they seem to have come from the village of Sully (founded by a Norman knight called Sully) in Wales just across the Bristol channel and 2) In London but with some sightings in Cambridgeshire and limited ones in Norfolk Suffolk and Essex. The Market Harborough link is not one I have met yet but I'd be glad to hear about it. The varietsal Sulley is common amongst the London branch. Look forward ot hearing from you. Robin Moore

Hello Robert:
There were SULLYs in the city/town of Bethune and that area of northern France (now du Nord) who were very influential in the middle ages. However, I think the Duc de Sully/Sulley was the brother of the King of France. You might check.
The SULLY family is in many history books of the period I have researched between 1350-1650. I don't know if there were other SULLY families around Paris or in other areas but they shouldn't be difficult to research.
Good Hunting!
Carol

My ancestor is Robert Sully of Bridgewater England, who emigrated to Hull, Canada in 1833. The family always said they were Huguenots, and claimed relationship to the Duke of Sully, who was a close friend and advisor (not brother as someone stated on the thread) to Henri IV (of Navarre), Huguenot leader and later king of France at the time of the religious wars. The connection to the duke is unlikely, though not impossible. The Duke's family originally came from the Bethune area in northern France, but I don't know if any Sully's from there are related. Robert Sully's wife was Mary Cross and they emigrated along with her brother Isaac Cross, and this may have been the Huguenot connection, since Isaac and Abraham were common Huguenot names, and less common in England at the time. The French names were often quickly changed for commercial purposes, Cross perhaps resulting from La Croix, La Crosse, etc. ALso I have seen Solley in Huguenot lists somewhere (I can't say where!). If your name has an e in it, there might be a connection.
Just some thoughts and info!
Regards
Robert