Surname Peverley - Meaning and Origin

Peverley: What does the surname Peverley mean?

The surname Peverley is of Anglo-Saxon origin, deriving from the Old English word "pfefer", meaning pepper, and "leah", meaning wood, glade or clearing. Therefore, Peverley could mean "pepper clearing" or "wood of the pepper". It is a topographic surname which was given to families living near specific physical features, such as hills, streams, churches, or types of trees. Alternatively, it might be connected to an occupation, possibly indicating that the family were cultivators or traders of pepper. The surname is quite rare and is mostly found in England. The spelling of the surname has evolved over time and has multiple variations such as Peverell, Peverall, and Peverly. As with many surnames, the exact meaning can be hard to determine centuries later due to changes in language, spelling, and regional usage.

Peverley: Where does the name Peverley come from?

The last name Peverley is most commonly found in the United Kingdom, specifically England. It is a name with French origins stemming from the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. Since the time of the Normans, the Peverley family has been well established throughout the south and east of England, particularly in Essex and the Midlands.

Peverley is known to be one of the oldest Norman surnames found during that period of history of England. The name can be traced through the centuries to modern times with the first recorded spelling of Peverley being in the year 1236 in Oxfordshire.

Today, Peverley is still an uncommonly found surname but does occur to some degree in both England and Wales, with the majority of those bearing the name living in areas surrounding London. In terms of the United States, the surname is also found but in much smaller numbers. The highest concentrations of Peverleys are in the Mid-West and the North East of the country.

In other parts of the world, the surname is present in much lower numbers. Due to migrations all over the globe, however, its presence can be found all across the world in small pockets. Given its origins in ancient England though, it is most commonly associated with the United Kingdom.

Variations of the surname Peverley

Peverley is an English surname derived from the Old English personal name Peverel. It has variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin including Pebrell, Pevrel, Peverelle, Peveral, Pebrelly, Peverely, Peverellee, Peveril, Peverel, Peverelle and Pevrell.

The earliest ancestor of the Peverley line is still unknown; however, the Peverel family had a long, illustrious history in England. The first known record of any family bearing the name is from 1086, when a William Peverell was noted in the Domesday Book. During the 12th-century, the Peverel family had become powerful enough that King Henry I gifted them the manor of Easton Peverley, which was located in Norfolk.

The Peverel family had several branches, including one branch who adopted the surname of Peverley. Surname variants of Peverley stemmed from the different branches of the family. Over time, these various branches adopted new surnames in order to distinguish themselves, leading to more variant spellings.

The Peverley surname is an ancient and noble one. It is still commonly found in England today. There are also numerous contemporary Peverleys living around the world, representing a few of the surviving branches of the family.

Famous people with the name Peverley

• Rich Peverley: Former NHL player. He played for the Atlanta Thrashers, Boston Bruins, and Dallas Stars. He also was involved in the launch of the non-profit organization Pevs Protects, which focuses on heart health awareness.
• Mark Peverley: Former MLB catcher. He played for the Detroit Tigers, Montreal Expos, and Cincinnati Reds.
• Matthew Peverley: Actor best known for his role as What in the cult classic Off the Wall.
• Martin Peverley: Canadian actor and voice actor. He is best known for his work in The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit franchises.
• Patrick Peverley: Actor and producer. He is best known for his roles in films such as Reindeer Games, Hoovey, and the upcoming film called By the Gun.
• Dave Peverley: NASCAR driver. He won two NASCAR Grand National Series races in 1971 and 1972.
• David Peverley: Canadian professional ice hockey player. He played for the Halifax Mooseheads and Brampton Battalion of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL).
• Ben Peverley: Canadian ice hockey player. He played for the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds of the OHL and is currently an assistant coach with the Saginaw Spirit.
• Ryan Peverley: Musician, composer, and sound designer. He composed music for films such as The Hawk Is Dying and Aftermath.
• Jesse Peverley: Professional golfer and coach. He has coached players such as Adam Hadwin, Matt Hill, and Richard T Lee.

Other surnames

Peverly