Dever

Recorded in many spellings which include De Vere, De Vauz, De Var, Devar, Dever, Vaux, Vere, Vear, Veare and Vears, this is a surname of Norman French origins. It is locational and was introduced into England at the famous Conquest of 1066, being one of the very few which can be proved with absolute certainty to have been at the battle of Hastings. Furthermore the nameholders served with such conspicuous distinction that they 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 departements of Guttray and 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 De Vere family 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, Jane Vear, married at St George's chapel, Hanover Square, London, in 1780, and George Dever married at Allhallows, London Wall, on June 28th 1796. 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. This 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. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.