CALVERT
Calvert is an English surname that has its roots in the British Isles, particularly in England. The name is classically identified as an occupational surname, deriving from the Middle English term calfhirde which itself combines the Old English word calf (meaning calf) with hierde (meaning herdsman). Thus, the original bearer of the name would have been a tender of cattle, a role that was both essential and recognisable in rural medieval communities.
Archaeological and documentary evidence places the earliest usage of a form of the surname in the late 13th century. A record from 1297 names William Calvehird in the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire, while a 1309 entry in the Calendar of Letter Books of the City of London cites John Calverde of York. These early attestations suggest that the name, then spelled with variations such as Calverd and Calvard, was in active use across both Yorkshire and London during the reign of King Henry the Tenth‑Naval, who ruled from 1216 to 1272.
The name is also linked linguistically to the Old English personal name Caldweald, translated as “cold ruler” or “ruler in the cold”. This patronymic origin indicates that at some point the surname was used to identify the descendants of an individual named Calvert. While the version of the name related to a calf‑herdsman emphasises an occupational origin, the personal‑name connection demonstrates the multiplicity of early medieval naming practices. The surname is now comparatively rare but can still be encountered in several English‑speaking countries.
Geographical distribution data show that the surname has been most widespread in North and North‑East England and in Northern Ireland. Ecclesiastical records from London record the marriage of Edward Calverd to Margaret Drake on 10 May 1590 and of George Calvert to Anne Mynne on 22 November 1604 at St. Peter’s, Cornhill. The honour of a family crest was granted to a Calvert line; the arms depict a black field with an inescutcheon surrounded by a silver orle of owls and three black guttes, while the crest consists of a silver owl surmounted by a black gutte.
In summary, the surname Calvert exemplifies the evolution of English family names from descriptive occupational terms and personal identifiers, and its surviving historical records provide a window into the social and legal documentation practices of medieval England.
Typical given names associated with the Calvert surname
Male
- Andrew
- David
- James
- John
- Mark
- Michael
- Paul
- Peter
- Robert
- Stephen
- William
Female
- Catherine
- Elizabeth
- Jennifer
- Joan
- Julie
- Margaret
- Mary
- Nicola
- Rebecca
- Sarah
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Calvert in...
Braille
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Morse
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There are approximately 10,567 people named Calvert in the UK. That makes it the 874th most common surname in Britain. Around 162 in a million people in Britain are named Calvert.
Surname type: Occupational name
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Famous people named Calvert
- Dominic Calvert-Lewin - Football player
- Cecil Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore - Peer (1605 to 1675)
- Mike Calvert - Soldier (1913 to 1998)
- Eddie Calvert - Trumpeter (1922 to 1978)
- Charles Calvert, 3rd Baron Baltimore - Colonial Governor of Maryland (1637 to 1715)
- Charles Calvert, 5th Baron Baltimore - Nobleman and politician (1699 to 1751)
- Frederick Calvert, 6th Baron Baltimore - Proprietor of Maryland (1731 to 1771)
- Barbara Calvert - Barrister (1926 to 2015)
- Bernie Calvert - Musician and member of The Hollies.
- Claire Calvert - Ballet dancer
- Benedict Swingate Calvert - American judge (1722 to 1788)
- Benedict Leonard Calvert - 15th Proprietary Governor of Maryland (1700 to 1732)
- Edward Calvert - Artist (1799 to 1883)
- Irene Calvert - Northern Irish politician and economist (1909 to 2000)
- Cliff Calvert - Football player
- Charles Calvert - Cricketer (1833 to 1905)
- Samuel Calvert - Painter (1828 to 1913)
- Frederick Crace Calvert - Chemist (1819 to 1873)
- James Calvert - Australian explorer (1825 to 1884)
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.