Surname Devereaux - Meaning and Origin
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Devereaux: What does the surname Devereaux mean?
The surname Devereaux is of French origin, specifically from Normandy. It is derived from the place-name "d’Évreux," indicating a person from the town of Évreux in northwestern France. The name itself is composed of two elements: the French "de," meaning "from," and "Évreux," a town in Normandy that derives its name from the Celtic tribe 'Eburovices'– "those who overcome by the yew?" Yew wood was commonly used to make bows in ancient warfare. Therefore, Devereaux can be loosely translated as "from Évreux" or potentially carry connotations of "overcomer through the yew." As with many surnames, bearers of Devereaux are likely to be descended from individuals who hailed from the region of Évreux.
Order DNA origin analysisDevereaux: Where does the name Devereaux come from?
The surname Devereaux is of French origin and it is a regional name from Évreux in Evreaux, a northern region in France. The name is derived from the French “d’Evreux” meaning ‘from Evreux’. It dates back to the Middle Ages when people often took their names from their local surroundings or their occupations.
In the 17th and 18th centuries, many French Huguenots emigrated to English-speaking countries including Ireland, the UK, America, Canada, and Australia. Some of them carried the surname Devereaux, which then became more commonly known in these countries.
Today, the surname Devereaux occurs more frequently in the United States, Australia, and England. Within the US, states with a significant number of people with this last name include Texas, California, Florida, New York, and Georgia. However, despite the widespread use of this surname, it remains relatively unusual. It is not ranked on the list of the top 2000 most common US surnames.
Variations of the surname Devereaux
The surname Devereaux originates from the Old French name “De Vereux," meaning "from Evreux," a town in northwestern France. As the name travelled across regions and got adopted into different languages, several variations emerged. There are many ways that Devereaux could be alternatively spelled, due to phonetic spelling, language translation changes, or simply as a personal choice of the family. Some of these alternate spellings and variants include Deveraux, Devreaux, Devereux, Deveraux, Devericks, Devroux, Devrueux, Deverick, and Devericks.
Some surnames with similar origins could also include French and Norman-based surnames like Devere, Devreux, or Eure, as the surname Devereaux itself has roots in French geography and history. It's important to remember that name variations can be extensive due to influences of regional dialects, migration patterns and individual family choices. Variations might also be created intentionally to distinguish different branches of a family, or unintentionally due to clerical errors or misinterpretations of handwriting.
Famous people with the name Devereaux
- Blanche Devereaux: Although she's technically a fictional character played by Rue McClanahan on "The Golden Girls," she is one of the most famous people with the surname Devereaux.
- James P. S. Devereaux: A United States Marine Corps general who is best known for his command of the defense of Wake Island during the Second World War.
- Paul Devereaux: An author who specializes in books on the paranormal.
- Christophe Devereaux: A French professional wrestling player.
- Jack Devereaux: Another fictional character, this time from the soap opera "Days of Our Lives."
- Kat Devereaux: An actress, mostly known for her role in 2010 film "Bold Native."
- David Devereaux: An author who is particularly known for his book "The Secret Source: The Law of Attraction and its Hermetic Influence Throughout the Ages."
- Melissa Devereaux: A film producer mostly known for her works like "All I Want" and "Derby Stallion." Remember, many of these names are less commonly known since Devereaux is not a highly prevalent surname among celebrities.