Surname Elvery - Meaning and Origin
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Elvery: What does the surname Elvery mean?
Elvery is a surname of English and Irish origin. It is derived from the Old English words eal (swan) and wer (weir). The name refers to someone who either lives by a fishing weir where swans were commonly found, or someone who tended to swans.
As an English surname, Elvery is most common in the southwestern counties of Avon, Somerset, and Devon. In Ireland, the name is particularly prominent in County Cork.
The name is sometimes anglicized to Elvina or Elvey and is also sometimes spelled Elvry. The diminutive form Elvy is occasionally seen as well.
Elvery is not particularly common, but there are those with the last name in the United States, Canada, Britain, Australia, and other English-speaking countries. Those with the surname often share proud stories of their ancestors, recalling historical records that suggest that the original Elverys were hard-working, industrious, independent people who lovingly tended their gardens and orchards, earned their living through whatever means necessary, and did their best to make sure their families were well cared for.
Order DNA origin analysisElvery: Where does the name Elvery come from?
The Elvery surname is still a common name in Ireland today. It is especially prevalent in the province of Connacht, with its main concentrations in the counties of Mayo, Galway, and Sligo. It is also dispersed in smaller numbers throughout the rest of the country. There is evidence that the name was derived from the Gaelic Mac an tSaghairligh, meaning "son of the sawyer".
Outside of Ireland, the name Elvery is more uncommon although there is a higher concentration in England, Wales and Scotland. The surname is likely to have arrived in Britain with the waves of Irish migrants during the 19th and early 20th centuries. As Irish people sought jobs and a better life elsewhere, the Elvery surname travelled with them.
Due to its overwhelming prevalence in Ireland, the Elvery surname is most commonly associated with Irish heritage. The name is sometimes represented in public records by Alternate Spellings, such as Elverie or Elverry, and can also be found in records under its original Gaelic form.
The Elvery surname remains common in Ireland today, and is less dispersed but still noted in other parts of the world. It is a reminder of the Irish diaspora, of which the Elvery surname is a part.
Variations of the surname Elvery
The surname Elvery has a range of variations and alternate spellings, which can include Elvary, Elveryn, Elvaryn, Elvon, Elvorn, Elvrin, Elvrim and even Alvery. The surname Elvery is derived from a Gaelic personal name, which was found mainly in Munster and Connacht in the tenth century. The name is thought to be derived from the Old Gaelic name "Etelvoldi," which is of obscure origin.
In Ireland, the surname Elvery is the Anglicised spelling of two older Gaelic surnames - Ó hÉilbhre and Mac Éilbheartaigh. This is evidenced by the family’s coat of arms, which reads “Qui invidet minor est”, or “He who envies is the lesser”, a phrase reflecting the family’s proud and noble origin.
In Scotland, the surname Elvery has historically been pronounced as Elvary, and is a variant of the name Gilvery, thought to have derived from the Scottish etymology “gille”, meaning 'servant'. In England, the surname Elvery can also be spelled Ellvery and Elverry, and is found in Yorkshire.
The Elvery family were originally of the ancient warrior and chieftain clans of Ireland, and can trace their lineage back to the time of the Viking invasions. The Elvery name can now be found all around the world, with families of the same origin found in counties across the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and many other countries.
Famous people with the name Elvery
- Maureen Elvery (Irish swimmer who represented her country in the 1956 Summer Olympics).
- Stuart Elvery (professional cricketer in the beginning of the 20th century who had his debut in1960 against the Lancashire team).
- Kevin Elvery (former professional tennis player who is currently a sports executive at the Australian Open).
- Michael Elvery (successful English actor who was nominated for several awards for his role in the film The King's Speech).
- Stephen Elvery (American entertainer known for his stand-up comedy career since the early Eighties).
- Galen Elvery (notable Australian artist and designer who had his artwork featured in the 2008 Stocholm Art Fair).
- Peter Elvery (winner of the 2008 Nobel Prize in Chemistry).
- John Elvery (senior executive at Procter & Gamble who currently holds a position as the company's Chief Technology Officer).
- Andrew Elvery (British architect credited for the design of several commercial buildings in London and Hong Kong).
- Julia Elvery (author, blogger and human rights advocate who specialized in civil and women's rights causes).