De Vere

This Norman surname recorded in the spellings of de Vere, Vere, Vear, Veare and Vears, was introduced into England in 1066. It is one the few which can be proved with absolute certainty to have been with William the Conqueror during the Invasion and at the battle of Hastings. Furthermore they served with conspicuous distinction so much so that the name holders were granted large estates, mainly in East Anglia, some of whom they still hold after nine hundred years. The origination is from the villages of 'Ver' in the canton of Guttray, La Manche, Normandy, although there is also a Dutch town called 'Veere' on the island of Walcheren, and it is possible that later nameholders may have originated there. The famous family of De Vere's were awarded the original Earldom of Oxford, and later the Dukedom of Ireland, and there has hardly been a time in British history when a nameholder has not been closely involved with events. The early name recordings include Baldewine de Ver of Oxford, in the Hundred Rolls of the year 1273, Henry de Ver of Sussex in the same year, and Robert Vere of Essex, but in the register of Oxford University for the entry of 1581. Later recordings include Henry de Vere, also of Oxford in 1605, and Jane Vear, married at St George's chapel, Hanover Square, London, in 1780. The coat of arms has the blazon of quarterly red and gold, a knights spur in silver, all within a engrailed bordure of black. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Alberic de Ver, which was dated 1086, in the Domesday Book of the county of Essex, during the reign of King William 1st, known as 'The Conqueror', 1066-1087. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.