Beavers History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Germany

Etymology of Beavers

What does the name Beavers mean?

Beavers is one of the many names that the Normans brought with them when they conquered England in 1066. The Beavers family lived in Berkshire. The family name, however, is of other geographical derivations, referring to any of several locations in Normandy called Beauvoir. The name is composed of the Old French roots beu, which means fair or lovely, and voir, which means to see, and indicates the bearer's residence in "a place with a fine view." 1 2

Early Origins of the Beavers family

The surname Beavers was first found in Yorkshire where Ralph de Belueeir was listed in the Pipe Rolls of 1170. Later, John de Beauveir was listed in the Assize Rolls for 1204 and William Bever, de Beuver in the Curia Regis Rolls for 1207-1208. 3

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 included the following: (Prior) de Beuver (Nottinghamshire), or Beauver (Leicestershire); John de Beauver, Yorkshire; and Thurstan de Beauver, Yorkshire. 4

Another early roll notes: John de Beauver, Yorkshire, Henry III-Edward I: Testa de Nevill, sive Liber Feodorum, temp. Henry III-Edward I. 5

Early History of the Beavers family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Beavers research. Another 81 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Beavers History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Beavers Spelling Variations

Before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Sound was what guided spelling in the Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Beavers family name include Beaver, Beavor, Beavers, Beavors, Beavoirs, Beevers and many more.

Early Notables of the Beavers family

More information is included under the topic Early Beavers Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Beavers Ranking

In the United States, the name Beavers is the 2,124^th most popular surname with an estimated 14,922 people with that name. 6

Beavers migration to the United States +

To escape the political and religious chaos of this era, thousands of English families began to migrate to the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. The passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe; however, those who made the voyage safely were encountered opportunities that were not available to them in their homeland. Many of the families that reached the New World at this time went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations of the United States and Canada. Research into various historical records has revealed some of first members of the Beavers family to immigrate North America:

Beavers Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Bridget Beavers, who settled in Annapolis Maryland in 1730

Beavers Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Ada Beavers, aged 10, who settled in America, in 1895
S. Ann Beavers, aged 29, who settled in America, in 1895
William Beavers, aged 5, who immigrated to the United States, in 1895
John Beavers, who landed in America, in 1897

Beavers Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Ed. H. Beavers, aged 20, who landed in America, in 1905
Charles Beavers, aged 50, who immigrated to the United States, in 1906
Charles James Beavers, aged 17, who settled in America, in 1906
Robert Beavers, aged 23, who landed in America from Tyrone, Ireland, in 1907
Margaret Beavers, aged 50, who immigrated to the United States, in 1912
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Beavers (post 1700) +

William M. Beavers (1935-2024), American politician from Illinois
Louise Beavers (1902-1962), American actress
Billie Beavers (b. 1965), American professional football player
George A. Beavers Jr. (1891-1989), American board chairman of Golden State Mutual Life Insurance Company
Robert Beavers (b. 1949), American experimental film maker
Edward H. Beavers Jr., American fighter pilot and flying ace in the U.S. Army Air Forces, during World War II, credited with 5 aerial victories
Scott Beavers, American Libertarian politician, Candidate for Presidential Elector for Michigan, 1996; Candidate for U.S. Representative from Michigan 6th District, 1996 7
Joseph A. Beavers, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from District of Columbia, 1964 7
John Beavers, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Texas, 2000 7
James F. Beavers, American Democratic Party politician, Postmaster at Welch, West Virginia, 1893-97; Member of West Virginia State Senate 7th District, 1899-1902; Delegate to Democratic National Convention from West Virginia, 1916 7
... (Another 2 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Citations +

The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Testa de Nevill or "Liber Feodorum" or "Book of Fees," thought to have been written by Ralph de Nevill, for King John (1199–1216)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 13) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html