Show ContentsHavesey History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Havesey

What does the name Havesey mean?

The origins of the Havesey surname date from the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. Their name originated with an early member who was a person associated with a male goat, perhaps through ownership of such an animal or a perceived physical or temperamental resemblance to that animal. The surname Havesey is derived from the Old English word hæfer, which means he-goat. 1 2

Early Origins of the Havesey family

The surname Havesey was first found in Norfolk where Hugh, Simon Hauer was the first mention of the family in the Pipe Rolls of 1199 and later in the Pipe Rolls of Essex in 1230. 1

From these earliest records, we must move to the north in Scotland to find later information. "Gilbert Heware, chaplain, witnessed an instrument of sasine, 1446, and Robert Hafere was one of the perambulators of the bounds of Prestwick, in the same year." 3

Early History of the Havesey family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Havesey research. Another 136 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1470, 1482, 1497, 1499, 1505, 1509, 1513, 1514, 1657, 1664, 1684, 1685, 1686, 1687 and 1702 are included under the topic Early Havesey History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Havesey Spelling Variations

The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries; therefore, spelling variations are common among early Anglo-Saxon names. As the form of the English language changed, even the spelling of literate people's names evolved. Havesey has been recorded under many different variations, including Havers, Haver and others.

Early Notables of the Havesey family

Notables of the family at this time include Clopton Havers (1657-1702), an English physician and pioneer on the microstructure of bone, believed to have been the first person to observe the eponymous Haversian canals and Sharpey's fibres in bones. "He studied at Catharine Hall, Cambridge, but left the university without taking any degree. He was admitted extra-licentiate of the College of Physicians of London on 28 July 1684, took the degree of M.D. at Utrecht...
Another 74 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Havesey Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Havesey family

For many English families, the political and religious disarray that shrouded England made the far away New World an attractive prospect. On cramped disease-ridden ships, thousands migrated to those British colonies that would eventually become Canada and the United States. Those hardy settlers that survived the journey often went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Havesey or a variant listed above: Dr. D. Havers settled in New Orleans in 1822; John Havers arrived in Philadelphia in 1868.



  1. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  2. Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
  3. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)


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