Surname Mavers - Meaning and Origin

Mavers: What does the surname Mavers mean?

The last name Mavers is of English origin and can be found in early records of the United Kingdom. The name is thought to come from the Old English maeura meaning moor, or from a French personal name Maurer from the Latin macer meaning maker. It can also be a variant spelling of the Norse name Marrs, from the Old Norse marr meaning sea. As these meanings indicate, Mavers may have originally been a locational name referring to either a moorland or coastal landscape.

Mavers is a relatively rare surname found in England, Scotland, and Wales. It was especially prominent in Yorkshire and Lancashire and could originally have referred to a family who had roots in either of these regions. For example, the Yorkshire Poll Tax of 1379 lists a William Maverys as resident of Yorkshire, and in a Essex manorial rolls for 1494 mentions a Thomas Mavers. This suggests that the family may have originally hailed from Yorkshire and Lancashire before spreading to other parts of the British Isles.

Today, Mavers is still quite rare and is found mainly among English-speaking populations. While the original meaning of the name may have been lost in antiquity, the name Mavers evokes a sense of connection to the land and to the past. It is a name which can still evoke a sense of pride in those who bear it.

Mavers: Where does the name Mavers come from?

The last name Mavers is most commonly found in England, particularly in the county of East Sussex. It is also seen in other parts of the United Kingdom, including Wales and Scotland, as well as the Republic of Ireland.

Mavers is believed to be derived from the Old English word "Maevere," meaning a person who was a bailiff or officer of justice who presided over a court and whose job it was to protect the rights of the people. As an occupational name, it is thought to have been in use for many centuries prior to the Norman invasion of 1066.

Today, the surname Mavers appears to be more numerous in the counties of East Sussex, Leicester, Oxfordshire, and Hertfordshire. It has been recorded in the 1881 census as one of the top twenty most common surnames in the county of East Sussex.

The Mavers surname can also be found in the United States. Records show that some people with the Mavers surname settled in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and New York during the mid-1800s. In modern times, the surname is most common in Ohio.

Overall, the Mavers surname is certainly more prevalent in the British Isles than the United States, however, it can be found in both countries and likely many more besides.

Variations of the surname Mavers

The surname Mavers is a habitational name, which means it is derived from the name of the place where the original bearer of the surname lived or held land. Mavers is a variation of Maver, which is a habitational name from the area of Mauver near Tynron, in Scotland's Dumfriesshire county. The surname can also be spelled as Maver, Mover, Mavors, Maevor, Makeever and Makevar.

The surname may also be alternately spelled Mavar, Moevor or Mavor. It is also known to have been spelled Mavor, Maveer, Moveir and Movear. There are other spelling variants of this surname, including Meaur, Mevar, Mevors, Mouvers, Mavors, Mevar, Maurer and Mevours.

Variants of the surname have also been found in other countries, such as Holland, France and Germany. The Dutch version of Mavers is spelled Maever, Mever or Mevers. In France, the same surname has been spelled Mavarre and Mavery. In Germany, the surname has been spelled Mahr, Maer and Mair.

In addition, Mavers has been used as a personal first name in Scotland, and in some cases it has become a surname as well, due to its use for naming purposes. There have been many variants of this name, as well, including Maffers, Mavers, Mourers, Maffers and Mavers.

Famous people with the name Mavers

• Paddy Mavers: British actor born in 1961, known for roles in films such as East is East and Rita, Sue and Bob Too!
• Wayne Mavers: British musician, known as the founding member and co-lead vocalist of UK rock band The La's
• Ian Mavers: British songwriter and record producer, and lead singer of Liverpool indie band The Stairs
• Will Mavers: British actor and fashion designer, appearing in films such as The Hours and The Greatest Game Ever Played
• John Mavers: Canadian actor; known for appearing in The Twilight Saga: Eclipse and The Man in the Iron Mask
• Tim Mavers: English songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, former member of alternative rock band The La's
• David Mavers: English actor, known for playing the role of Billy Mayhew in the British soap opera Coronation Street
• Simon Mavers: British guitarist, songwriter, and producer, known for being the lead guitarist of UK punk band The Clash
• James Mavers: British guitarist and singer-songwriter, known for being the keyboardist and backing vocalist in the band The Libertines
• Lee Mavers: British singer-songwriter, and lead vocalist and songwriter of rock band The La's

Other surnames

Maver