Surname Chevers - Meaning and Origin

Chevers: What does the surname Chevers mean?

The last name Chevers is of English origin and is derived from the word "cheverell," which is an Old English placename found in the county of Wiltshire. The meaning of the placename is uncertain, but certain scholars suggest it may derive from the Old English words ceap (market) and aera (enclosure).

Chevers is generally considered to be a locational surname, meaning that it was used to denote a place of origin rather than a hereditary quality. In the Middle Ages, many individuals adopted the place name as part of their identity. It is thought that the Chevers surname emerged during this period as people who originated from the same region began to band together.

The earliest known documentation of the name can be traced back to 1240 when a Robert de Cheverall was recorded in Wiltshire. In 1620, John Chevers and his wife Joane were recorded in the Oxford marriage records. By the 19th century, the Chevers surname had spread across England and other parts of the UK where members of the family could be found in Yorkshire, Cambridgeshire, and London.

The Chevers family is regarded as part of the landed gentry of England who could trace ancestry as far back as sometime during the Middle Ages. Today, many descendants of the original family still reside in the UK, however, there is also a large population of Chevers living in the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

Chevers: Where does the name Chevers come from?

The last name Chevers is of English origin, and is derived from the occupation of an individual who cut and sold cheese. Today, the surname Chevers can be found mainly in the British Isles, particularly in the southern regions such as England, Scotland, and Ireland. However, the name has spread to many parts of the world, including much of North America, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and elsewhere.

In the United States, the last name Chevers is quite common in the states of California, New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey, as well as other states. It is also fairly frequent in the Canadian provinces of Ontario, Alberta, and Quebec. It has likely spread to other countries due to sheer population growth, as well as through immigration from these nations and worldwide migration.

The surname Chevers may also be spelled in several ways, such as Chevars, Chevis, Chivers, and Chewers, though they all trace their roots back to the same English occupational name. The last name has been in use since at least the 1700s, and is still in current usage.

Variations of the surname Chevers

The surname Chevers has many variants, spellings, and derivations found in the historical records, including Chouvers, Chaver, Cheawer, Chivers, and Chivvers.

The spelling variations of Chevers include Chouvers, Chaver, Cheawer, Chivers, and Chivvers. The surname Chevers may have been derived from the French name Chaber, meaning "shoemaker," or "woodcutter," or may have derived from the Breton word choé or chaoe, meaning "horseman" or "knight." The Chaver or Chaveer spelling may have been inspired by the French surname châtelier, meaning "stonemason" or "bookkeeper."

The Chouvers surname is thought to have derived from the Old French word chaouer, meaning "hairy," suggesting an origin stemming from a physical characteristic. The Chavers spelling in France is typically found in the Limousin region and often associated with the surname Chevreau, meaning "goat," which may also have been adopted from a physical description.

The Chivers variant is thought to have derived from the Old English word cifre, meaning "a chaser," and it is believed this was adopted to describe one who was an excellent hunter. The Chivvers form of the surname is thought to be a corruption of Chivers, with the addition of the suffix -ers, denoting a place of origin.

In some cases, the surname Chevers has also been found to have been spelt Cheuvres, which is thought to have derived from the French name Chabot, meaning "metal smith" or blacksmith."

Regardless of the origin, the surname Chevers is found throughout the world, particularly in the countries of the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, and the United States.

Famous people with the name Chevers

• Louise Chevers: Louise is a British actress known for her roles on BBC television, including Doctors and Call the Midwife.
• Marion Chevers: Marion is a British comic book artist who has worked on series such as Buffy The Vampire Slayer.
• William Chevers: William was an 18th-century British politician who served in both Houses of Parliament, including as a minister in the Ministry of Finance.
• David Chevers: David is an American professional skateboarder and fitness coach who has competed in the ESPN X-Games.
• Florence Chevers: Florence was an Irish actress best known for roles in films such as An Inspector Calls and Ride the High Wind.
• Bonnie Chevers: Bonnie is an American television and motion picture producer, best known for creating the hit series The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.
• Sir Richard Chevers: Richard was an English doctor who served as the president of the Royal College of Physicians in the 17th century.
• Kenyon Chevers: Kenyon was an American musician, best known for his time with the rock group American Eagle.
• Charles Chevers: Charles was a Royal Navy officer in the 19th century and a recipient of the Order of the Bath.
• John Chevers: John was an 18th-century English clergyman and writer who served as the Master of the Charterhouse and founded the first public library in Kingston upon Thames.

Other surnames

ChevesChevey