CAVE
Cave is a surname of English origin, primarily derived from a topographical feature. The name is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as Cava at Cave in East Yorkshire. The place name itself comes from a pre‑7th‑Century river name, originally an Old English word meaning “quick, prompt, nimble”.
The surname may also arise from the Old English word cave, meaning “a hollow or depression in the ground”, and was applied to a person who dwelt near such a landmark. In some instances it was used as a nickname for someone who was secretive or reserved, employing the symbolic association of caves with darkness and seclusion.
French influence is also evident in some forms of the name. The Norman surname Chauf or Cauf, derived from Old French chauf meaning “bald”, and itself from Latin calvus, gave rise to the modern variants Chave and Cave. The earliest known bearer recorded as Roger le Cauf appears in the Curia Rolls of Cornwall in 1214.
Other recorded spellings of the surname include Caves, Cavey, Cavie, Ka‑ve, and even the Dutch adaptation De Cave. In the Celtic parts of England the simplified form Ke‑ve is sometimes found. A patronymic derivative such as Caveson, meaning “son of Cave”, also appears in historical records.
Notable early bearers of the name include Nigel de Cava in 1185, recorded in the Records of the Templars in Yorkshire, and Ralph de la Cave of Sussex, cited around 1198 during the reign of King Richard I. The name was carried to the New World by individuals such as Richard Cave, who departed London aboard the Bonaventure in January 1634 bound for Virginia.
In modern times the surname remains common in England, particularly in Hampshire and Leicestershire, and has a presence in the United States, especially in Virginia and North Carolina. Its distribution reflects the centuries‑long migration of bearers from Britain to the Americas and elsewhere.
While similar surnames such as Cavezza in Italy or Kave in Hungary may appear linguistically closer, they are not etymologically related to the English Cave. The surname, as a habitational or topographical name, shares categorisation with other landscape‑based surnames such as Hill and Fields, yet it remains distinct in origin and meaning.
Typical given names associated with the Cave surname
Male
- Andrew
- David
- James
- John
- Michael
- Paul
- Peter
- Richard
- Robert
- Stephen
Female
- Elizabeth
- Emma
- Joanne
- Julie
- Margaret
- Nicola
- Patricia
- Samantha
- 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 Cave in...
Braille
⠉⠁⠧⠑
Morse
-.-..-...-.
Semaphore
There are approximately 7,294 people named Cave in the UK. That makes it roughly the 1,281st most common surname in Britain. Around 112 in a million people in Britain are named Cave.
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Famous people named Cave
- Nick Cave - Australian musician
- Bebe Cave - Actress
- George Cave, 1st Viscount Cave - Lawyer and Conservative politician (1856 to 1928)
- Darren Cave - Irish rugby union player
- Hugh B. Cave - Writer (1910 to 2004)
- Leanda Cave - Triathlete
- Lucie Cave - Journalist and television presenter
- Micky Cave - Football player (1949 to 1984)
- Terence Cave - Specialist in literature and university teacher
- Basil Cave - Diplomat and cricketer (1865 to 1931)
- Edward Cave - Publisher (1691 to 1754)
- Nancy Cave - Squash player (1896 to 1)
- Walter Cave - Architect (1863 to 1939)
- William Cave - Divine (1637 to 1713)
- Stephen Cave - Politician (1820 to 1880)
- Joyce Cave - Squash player (1902 to 1953)
- Tom Cave - Racing driver
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.