Surname Peaveley - Meaning and Origin

Peaveley: What does the surname Peaveley mean?

The surname Peaveley is of Anglo-Saxon origin, deriving from the ancient personal name Pefeles, found in Old English charters dated back to the 10th century. However, concrete meaning or occupational association is not established due to its rarity and ancient origins. Peaveley might also be locational, originating from a specific geographical location, typically a town or a village. Surnames began to be used after the Norman Conquest in 1066 to distinguish people with the same personal names, and those based on locations were often assigned to the lord of the manor or to those who migrated from one place to another. As an ancient British last name, Peaveley is quite rare today with more popularity in the United States. All existing research indicates that given its age, the surname "Peaveley" could have numerous personal, occupational, or locational derivations.

Peaveley: Where does the name Peaveley come from?

The last name Peaveley is common in both the United Kingdom and North America today. In Great Britain, the Peaveley family is believed to have first settled in the country's west midlands, at Staffordshire and Warwickshire. Through the centuries, the family has spread out to locations all over the island, from London to Lincolnshire to Padstow in Cornwall and beyond.

In the United States and Canada, the Peaveley family can be found in a variety of regions. In the southern states, there is a strong presence in Texas, Florida, Tennessee, and Georgia. Further north, New York and Pennsylvania have a number of Peaveleys, and in the Midwest, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Illinois have significant numbers of this family name.

On both sides of the Atlantic, the number of Peaveleys has grown and continues to expand. There is currently no distinct concentration of the surname within any one area, making it a truly international last name. Though the origin of the Peaveleys is not known for certain, records show that the family name dates back hundreds of years in both England and Scotland.

Variations of the surname Peaveley

The surname Peaveley is derived from the Old English term pæfa, meaning ‘pea’. It is believed to be an occupational surname, and can be found in the records as far back as the 13th century in England, where it originated. Variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the Peaveley family name include: Peevey, Pevley, Pavely, Pevly, Pavey, Pebly, Pebley, Peevley, Peevly, and Peeby.

The surname Peaveley appears to have originally been more widespread within the English Midlands, particularly Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, and Leicestershire. A few records of the name appear to be found further afield in the south, particularly in Devon, and in the north in the county of Durham.

Examples of the surname from the records of that time include Richard Pevely in the Feet of Fines of Surrey in 1248, and Margareda Peevy in the Subsidy Rolls of Devon in 1327. A more recent turbulent example of the surname is also recorded in 1586 when a John Pevely, who had been accused of robbery in the Midlands, absconded and fled to London. The earliest recorded spelling of the family name is believed to be that of Helewise Pevelay, which appears in the tax rolls of Wiltshire in 1260.

Peaveley is also an uncommon given name, although more commonly found in countries with the Germanic language. In German-speaking countries, the surname is most commonly spelled as ‘Pavely’. It is also found in various other countries, including Australia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, and Switzerland.

Famous people with the name Peaveley

• Rick Peavey: an American former professional baseball pitcher.
• Jake Peavey– an American professional ice hockey forward.
• Thomas Peavey: a 16th-century English smallholder, or small land-holder.
• Clarence Peavey: an American farmer, owner of a 170-acre farm, and inventor.
• Kenneth Peavey: an American entrepreneur, banker, business leader, and philanthropist.
• Joe Peavey: an American professional golfer on the PGA Tour.
• George Peavey: an American electrical engineer who is credited with the invention of the modern day electric bass guitar.
• David Peavey: an American politician and a member of the Maine House of Representatives.
• Scott Peavey:a Canadian three-time Olympic curler.
• Joan Peavey: an American politician who served multiple terms as a Senator in the Maine Senate.

Other surnames

Peavely