Everard

Recorded in many spelling forms including Everard, Everett, Evras, Evert, Everest, and diminutives such as Ebi, Ebe, Eberline, Eberle, etc, this is a surname of considerable antiquity. It has its sources in both the Old English pre 7th century personal name 'Eoforheard' and the Germanic personal name 'Eberhard', both composed of the elements 'eber', translating as 'wild boar' and 'hard' meaning brave or strong. Curiously the name was very popular with the 1066 Norman invaders of England, and it is possible that the German spelling was brought by them, and then intermixed with the English form. The name as 'Everard' was particularly popular with the Bretons who came as part of William's army, and who were, in recognition of their feats, granted extensive lands in East Anglia. A Somerset family by the name of Everard claim their descent from one Ranulph Fitzeverard, who supposedly held lands at Luxborough, Somerset, in 1066. Early examples of the surname recording include Simon Eborard of Norfolk in 1275, and Johannes Everard of Yorkshire in 1379. Later examples from church registers of London include the dialectal variants such as Robert Evert at St Giles Cripplegate, in 1562, Peter Everit at St Stephen Walbrooke in 1567, Edward Everet at St Andrews Holborn, in 1666, and George Everett at St Mary at Hill, on May 1st 1700. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Richard Everard. which was dated 1204 in the 'Curia regis' rolls of Bedford. during the reign of King John, known as 'Lackland', 1199 - 1216. 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.