Surname Everette - Meaning and Origin

Everette: What does the surname Everette mean?

The surname Everette is of Old English origin, derived from the personal name Eoforheard. This historical, Anglo-Saxon name is made up of two elements: "eofor," meaning boar, and "heard," meaning hardy, brave, or strong. So the name Eoforheard or Everette largely translates to 'brave boar' or 'strong as a boar'.

The boar in Old English culture is a symbol of courage and ferocity, hence it was common to use this metaphor in naming. Surnames at that time often were based on a person’s occupation, place of residence or personal characteristics, so someone named Everette could be assumed to possess the qualities of a boar in terms of bravery or strength.

It must be noted that over time and across regions, the spelling variations of Everette have included Everard, Evrard, Eberhard and others. Each variation holds a similar meaning given the shared Old English origin. Moreover, as with other surnames, anyone today with the surname Everette may not have any historical or familial connections to its meaning.

Everette: Where does the name Everette come from?

The surname Everette has English origins, derived from the given name 'Everard.' This given name in Medieval English means 'Brave as a boar,' where 'eofor' means 'a boar' and 'heard' means 'brave, hardy, strong.' It was a popular name among the Norman settlers in England after the Norman Conquest in 1066.

The name Everette has various spelling forms, including Everett, Evrard, Evert, and more, which were later used as surnames. The surname was first recorded as Everard in Essex in 1198 and as Everett in 1221 in Cambridge.

Today, Everette or its more common variant, Everett, is found in many English-speaking countries, but it's especially prevalent in the United States. According to the data presented by Forebears, a genealogical resource documenting worldwide surname distribution, the surname is most commonly found in the United States, followed by England.

Variations of the surname Everette

The surname Everette is believed to derive from the Old English personal name Eoforheard, which is composed of elements "eofor" meaning a wild boar and "heard" meaning brave, hardy or strong. Thus, there are a number of spellings and variants that arise from this same origin, influenced by regional accents, evolution of language, and personal preferences.

Common variants and spellings of Everette include Everett, Everet, Everard, Evert, Evrett, Evrard, and Evrad. These names maintain the hard consonant sounds of the original surname.

Given the nature of surname evolution, some names of slightly different origins may sound similar to Everette too. Some examples include Everitt, Averett, Averitt, and even the first name Everett.

There are also alternate surnames originating from the same root, especially when the initial name spread across different regions. This includes the surnames Eberhardt and Eberhard in German-speaking regions, Ebhardt or Eberhart in variants dialects, and Eberard, Eberared, and Everhard in Dutch-speaking regions.

In summary, the surname Everette has various other renderings influenced by regional tongues and personal choice but most generally maintain the hard consonant sounds and similar sequences of vowels.

Famous people with the name Everette

• Chad Everett: an American actor who appeared in over 40 films and television series but probably best known for his role in the 1970s TV drama, Medical Center.
• Kenny Everett: a British comedian, radio disc jockey, and television presenter known for his irreverent, offbeat comedic style and spoof radio shows.
• Percy Everett: a British architect who was Chief Architect and Engineer of the Victorian Railways Department in Australia.
• Verna Felton: born Verna Everett, was an American actress best known for providing many female voices in Walt Disney animated films.
• Adam Everett: a retired American baseball player known for his time with the Houston Astros and Minnesota Twins.
• Jim Everett: a former professional American football quarterback who played in the NFL for 12 seasons, primarily with the Los Angeles Rams. Please note that some consider this last name to be quite uncommon, so world-renowned celebrities with this surname are not abundant. The individuals listed have achieved a degree of fame.

Other surnames

Everett