Surname Deverall - Meaning and Origin
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Deverall: What does the surname Deverall mean?
The last name Deverall is a popular habitational name derived from a place called Deverall near Frome in Somerset in England. The name is derived from Old English and means ‘the open piece of land near the ford’. It is a popular English surname, especially in the Somerset area, and is known to be in use since at least the 15th century.
The Deverall family is an ancient Anglo-Saxon family which traces its heritage from the area near Frome in Somerset. Over the centuries, the family moved north and can now be found in many parts of Great Britain, Ireland and America. The Deveralls were involved in many ventures over the centuries - from being craftsman and artisans in the 16th and 17th centuries, to becoming merchants and civil servants in the 19th and 20th centuries.
The Deverall family has a long and distinguished history in the United Kingdom. Notable members of the family include soldier, diplomat and author George Deverall who served in both World Wars, and singer and songwriter Maurice Deverall who performed both in the UK and in America. In more recent times, members of the Deverall family can be found in a variety of professions, from lawyers to academics, athletes to authors and actors.
The Deverall family can trace its roots to the 15th century and, over the centuries, has had a presence, and made a contribution, in many aspects of national and international life. Their adventurous spirit and commitment to hard work means that the Deverall name will likely be around for many more centuries to come.
Order DNA origin analysisDeverall: Where does the name Deverall come from?
The last name Deverall is a relatively rare surname, found mainly in North America and the British Isles. Historically, this surname originated in the 12th century as a nickname for a person with grey hair, or one who is described as "grey."
Today, the Deverall surname is primarily found in the United Kingdom. In England, this last name is fairly common, and found especially in the counties of Lancashire, Derbyshire, Staffordshire and Yorkshire. It is also present in other parts of the British Isles, including Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
In North America, the surname is scattered throughout the U.S. and Canada. In the U.S., it's most commonly found in the states of Illinois, New York, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Ohio. In Canada, it is mostly seen in southern parts of the country, including Quebec and Ontario.
The global data base WorldNames PublicProfiler estimates a global population of 321 people with the Deverall surname. In the U.S., there are an estimated 38 bearers of the name. In England, there are an estimated 262 people, while in the rest of the British Isles, the population of Deveralls is around 21.
Overall, the Deverall surname is fairly uncommon, but significant numbers of the name can be found in the British Isles and North America.
Variations of the surname Deverall
The surname Deverall has several variants and spellings, as well as many surnames of the same origin. Variations of Deverall include Deverell, Deverelle, De Verell, Devereux, Devereaux, Deveroux, Deveraux, Devrell, Devrel, Devrellle, Devrelle, Devrille, De Vereux, De Vereaux, and Daverall.
The name Deverall is derived from the French word 'deverell’, which translates to mean ‘made out of iron’ or ‘iron-worker’. As such, many of the surnames of the same origin have connections to this meaning, such as the English 'Devereux', which also means ‘iron worker’. Similarly, the Spanish surname ‘De Neve’, which means ‘from the iron’, and the Dutch surname ‘De Vries’, meaning ‘the blacksmith’, have familial connections to Deverall.
The surname ‘Devorhees’ is also of the same origin as Deverall; stemming from the Dutch word ‘Daverhees’ meaning 'iron-worker’. The French version of the surname, 'Devoreux', shares the same meaning.
In Ireland, there is an Irish clan which takes the Deverall surname. This clan, also known as the Mac Deverall, takes their roots from the old Celtic language of Ireland, with 'Mac' meaning 'son of'. This clan has many old Irish spellings of Deverall, such as 'Mac Giolla Deamhghain’ or 'Mac Giolla Diarmada’, both of which mean, ‘son of the blacksmith’.
In Scotland, the surname ‘Devorill’ is derived from the Gaelic language, meaning ‘stout and firm’, which carries on the meaning of Deverall being related to working with iron.
Today, Deverall is a common surname in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. With its many variants and spellings, and surnames of the same origin, it is clear that Deverall is a surname with a long, varied, and interesting heritage.
Famous people with the name Deverall
- Justine Deverall: Justine is a multi-disciplinary artist, author and model, known for her vivid visual style of performance and her advocacy upholding the experiences for marginalised communities.
- Harry Deverall: Harry Deverall is a former Royal Navy submariner and inventor, best known for developing the C-periscope, which became a key part of the Royal Navy’s submarine equipment.
- Louis Deverall: Louis Deverall is a former professional footballer, who played for several teams including Aston Villa and Southend United.
- Richard Deverall: Richard Deverall is a British businessman and entrepreneur who founded Creative Planning Group, a UK-based financial services firm.
- John Deverall: John Deverall was an English mercenary, who served as a fighter for the French wars of religion in the 16th century.
- Kate Deverall: Kate Deverall is an environmetal journalist, who is a regular contributor to BBC News, New Scientist magazine and several other publications.
- Charlotte Deverall: Charlotte Deverall is a British modern pentathlete, who won a Bronze medal at the 2018 World Modern Pentathlon Championships.
- Anne Deverall: Anne Deverall is a British-born actress, best known for her roles in films such as Jane Eyre and Dark City.
- Andrew Deverall: Andrew Deverall is a British actor, best known for his roles in the television series, Outlander and Midsomer Murders.
- Claire Deverall: Claire Deverall is a British actress and singer, best known for her lead role in the musical, Coyote Ugly.