Surname Bevins - Meaning and Origin

Bevins: What does the surname Bevins mean?

The last name Bevins is of English origin, having derived from the Old English word ‘Beofyn’- meaning to ‘dweller by the bevers stream’. It is a topographic surname, which would have been given to someone who once lived near a particular geographical feature, such as a stream or river. Bevers streams are fast-moving and turbulent, and were an important source of food and sustenance during the Middle Ages, providing populations with fish, birds, mussels and other aquatic vegetation.

The Bevins surname has made its way through several variations over the centuries, such as Bebon, Bovin and Bovine. This surname can be found mainly in England, although it has traveled through large amounts of emigration to other parts of the globe. It can be found across the United States, Canada, Australia, and even Africa.

The Bevins name is a testament to the strong ties between nature and the Middle Ages’ way of life. It signified the connection of rural populations to the streams and rivers around them that provided essential resources. The Bevins surname now lives on as a reminder of this connection, a connection to days gone by.

Bevins: Where does the name Bevins come from?

The last name Bevins is an English name. It is most common in the United States with almost 9,000 people bearing this name. Other countries with sizable populations of people with the last name Bevins include England, Canada, South Africa, and Scotland.

The progenitor of this family name was likely from the Old French word “bevin” meaning “cheerful”, “amiable”, and “pleasant”. This would suggest that the original Bevins line was a very outgoing and friendly group of people.

Bevins is particularly common in the Appalachian Mountains region of the United States. Many families have settled in the area since the 1600s and today over 5,000 individuals are found there.

Another region where Bevins is very common is the South East region of the United States including Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee and Alabama. These states together account for over 3,000 individuals.

Bevins is also common across other areas of the world such as England, Canada, and Scotland. While hard numbers are difficult to come by, it’s likely that there are a few thousand people carrying this name living outside of the United States.

The last name Bevins is an ancient one and has been borne by many for centuries. It is most common in the United States, however has spread across the world. Even today, people who share this last name can be found in many parts of the globe.

Variations of the surname Bevins

Variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for Bevins include Bevan, Beven, Bevin, Bevon, Bevans, Bevens, Bevins, Bevons and Bevenson.

Bevins, from the Old English name Beovwine, has origins in England. It is believed to have descended from the Devonshire family of that name, who held numerous estates in the Southwest. The spelling of the name has changed over the centuries; for example, between the late 15th and early 17th centuries the name was commonly pronounced Bevin or Beven.

The earliest known ancestor of the Bevins family was Thomas de Bevans, a thegn of Sherbourne in the Doomsday Book. Bevins was one of the most common family names in parts of Devon and Cornwall during the Middle Ages, likely indicative of the popularity of the surname.

The surname can be found in numerous records around the UK, and even in the US in the 19th century. The variants Bevin, Beven, Bevon, Bevans, Bevens, Bevins, Bevons and Bevenson can be seen in records such as baptisms, burials and Parliamentary rolls of the 15th through 18th centuries.

The origins of the Bevins family have been particularly well-documented thanks to the use of parish records and other genealogical sources. Its variants and spellings are evidence of the changing landscape of the English language, and make tracing the history of this surname an interesting and exciting study.

Famous people with the name Bevins

• Charles Bevins- an American painter and sculptor who is known for highly detailed, brightly colored portraiture.
• Tim Bevins: an American actor who is best known for roles in The Other Guys and We The Animals.
• Mal Bevins: an Olympic athlete who represented Great Britain in the 1972 Olympics in Munich.
• Faye Bevins: an American singer and musician who is best known for her roots-rock-country hybrid.
• Amelia Bevins: an American actress known for her roles in films such as The Wedding Date, Coffee Shop, and The Poker Game.
• Michael Bevins: a former professional football player who had a long NFL career as a special teams player and defensive back.
• Marcus Bevins: a former professional basketball player who played for the Washington Bullets and the Utah Jazz.
• Raymond Bevins: an American jazz saxophonist and composer most notably known for his work with Bill Evans and John Coltrane.
• Mark Bevins: an American singer-songwriter whose work combines traditional folk and blues with contemporary rock and pop.
• Leslie Bevins: a Grammy-nominated American jazz vocalist, best known for her work with George Benson, Al Jarreau, and Jeff Lorber.

Other surnames

BevinBevinger