Veivers

Recorded in many spelling forms including Fevre, Febvre, Faivre, Fever, Veever, Vever, Veavers, Veevers, Veivers, and Vivers, this interesting surname is of French pre 8th century origins. It is recorded in its various spellings in almost all European countries. The surname is or rather was, occupational for an iron-worker, one who manufactured iron igots, rather than a smith who turned such items into products, although ultimately the word and hence the surname, became interchangeable. The derivation is from the ancient word "fevre", itself from the Latin "faber". The word and hence the later surname was introduced into England after the Norman Invasion of 1066. In the south of England the dialect dictated that the "v" was regarded as the normal pronunciation of "f", and was used in both forms. The suffix 's' when recorded is a patronymic indicating 'son of the fevre'. Examples of dialectals include the surnames Venn for Fen or Fenn, and Vivian for Fiddian. Early examples of the surname recording showing the surname development since the early medieval period include: Abraham le Fevre in the county of Essex, England, in 1248, Antoine le Fevre in Holland in 1606, and Mathias Vever in Germany in 1754. Amongst the church recordings in England are the marriage of John Vevers and Burnell Price on May 28th 1696, at the famous church of St. Dunstan's in the East, Stepney, and the christening of Joseph, son of Joshua and Frances Veivers, on October 4th 1786 at St. Botolph's without Aldersgate, city of London. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Roger le Fevere, which was dated 1243, in the Assize Rolls of the county of Somerset, England. This during the reign of King Henry 111, known as "The Frenchman", 1216 - 1272. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.