CALVER
Calver is a surname of purely English origin. It derives from the Old English word calfre, which means a calf herder or a person who reared young cattle. Consequently it is an occupational surname that was originally bestowed upon individuals who engaged in the rearing or handling of calves.
The earliest evidences of the name appear in the early thirteenth century. The first recorded spelling is that of David de Caluenore, dated to the year 1200 and found in the Pipe Rolls of Derbyshire, which were compiled during the reign of King John.
There is also a habitational derivation. A place called Calver in Derbyshire, named from the Old English elements calf (a calf) and ofer (a ridge), is recorded in the Domesday Book as Caluoure. Subsequent references in the Pipe Rolls of the same county list the place as Caluore (1199) and later as Calfovr (1239). From this locational name the surname first appears at the beginning of the thirteenth century.
Alternative explanations for the surname exist but are less likely. One possibility is that it is a variant of Carver, derived from the Middle English kerve(n) meaning to cut or carve. A historical example of this form is Peter le Caruier, mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Nottinghamshire in 1203. Another theory is that the name evolved from Calvert, a tender of cattle, which would originate from the Middle English Calfhirde. Records supporting this include Warin le Calfhirde in 1269, a document of the Feet of Fines for Yorkshire, and William Calvehird in the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire in 1297.
In the early eighteenth century, the surname continues to appear in parish registers, as exemplified by the mention of Mary Calver in the Shotley Parish Registers of 1702. These sources collectively confirm that the surname Calver has maintained a documented presence in England since the early medieval period and reflects both occupational and locational origins within the English linguistic and social landscape.
Typical given names associated with the Calver surname
Male
- Andrew
- Christopher
- David
- James
- John
- Mark
- Michael
- Paul
- Richard
- Robert
Female
- Caroline
- Dawn
- Emma
- Joanne
- Kathleen
- Louise
- Margaret
- Patricia
- Samantha
- Sarah
- Sharon
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
- Caler
- Calford
- Calva
- Calvaire
- Calvar
- Calvard
- Calvarese
- Calvarley
- Calvart
- Calvary
- Calve
- Calverbert
- Calverd
- Calverhouse
- Calverley
- Calverly
- Calvers
- Calvert
- Calvertt
- Calverwell
- Calvery
- Calves
- Calvet
- Calvez
- Carver
- Claver
- Claveria
- Claverie
- Clavero
- Clavier
- Cleaver
- Cleever
- Cleiver
- Clever
- Clewver
- Cliffer
- Cliver
- Clover
- Cluver
- Colfar
- Colfer
- Colfor
- Coliver
- Colliver
- Collver
- Colover
- Colver
- Culfear
- Culliver
- Culver
- Galepher
- Galiver
- Gallapher
- Galliver
- Gallivor
- Galver
- Glaipher
- Glaver
- Gleaver
- Glever
- Gliver
- Glover
- Glovier
- Gluver
- Golifer
- Gollifer
- Golver
- Guilliver
- Gulefer
- Guliver
- Gullefer
- Gullifer
- Gullifor
- Gullivar
- Gulliver
- Gulver
- Kailofer
- Kalver
- Kelfer
- Kelver
- Kilver
- Klaver
- Klever
- Kluever
- Kluver
- Kluyver
- Kolaveri
- Kolver
- Kulvear
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Calver in...
Braille
⠉⠁⠇⠧⠑⠗
Morse
-.-..-.-.....-..-.
Semaphore
There are approximately 2,913 people named Calver in the UK. That makes it roughly the 3,058th most common surname in Britain. Around 45 in a million people in Britain are named Calver.
Surname type: Location or geographical feature
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
