Lefeuvre

This very interesting surname is of medieval French origins, and appeared in England during two distinct periods. The first was early Norman, after 1066, when the first "Le Fevres" were recorded. Later in the 17th and 18th Centuries, their successors being Huguenot refugees, were also recorded as "Feviere". The name is job descriptive for a skilled worker in iron, a "super smith", one who could produce delicate work such as tracery. In England the name has developed into some extraordinary spellings, including: Feveryear, Fever, Feaveer and Faveryear. The name recordings include the following examples: Rachel Fever, christened at St. Botolph's, London, on January 31st 1562; whilst one Devid Febure (as spelt) was recorded at the French Huguenot Church, Spitalfields, on November 28th 1704. The later spellings include Catharine Feviere, the daughter of Henry Feviere, who was christened at St. Mary's, Whitechapel, London, on June 3rd 1744. This church would seem to be the epicentre of the early recordings in the "modern" English spelling form. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of John Feviere, which was dated February 15th 1745, a witness at St. Mary's, Whitechapel, London, during the reign of King George 11, known as "The Last Soldier King", 1727 - 1760. 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.