Vivers

Recorded in several spelling forms including Fevre, Febvre, Faivre, Veavers, Vevers, Veivers, and Vivers, this rare and interesting surname is of French origins, but found in its various spellings in almost all European countries. It is or rather was, occupational for an iron-worker or smith, the name deriving from the pre 7th century "fevre", itself from the Latin "faber", meaning a craftsman. The word and hence the name 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 gradually replaced in the spelling. Other surname examples include Venn for Fen, and sometimes Vivian, for Fiddian. In this case the surname development since 1243 includes the following examples - 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 St. Dunstan's, Stepney, and the christening of Joseph, son of Joshua and Frances Veivers, on October 4th 1786 at St. Botolph's without Aldersgate. 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 Somerset. 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.