TRAVERS
Travers is a surname of both English and French provenance that has been recorded in the British Isles since the twelfth century. The name is first attested in the 1172 register of the Gilbertine monastery at Lincoln, a document dated to the reign of King Henry the Eleventh (1154–1189). This early record indicates that the surname was already in use within the English realm when the Norman‑French invasion of 1066 had established a Frankish influence on the island.
In linguistic terms the name derives from the Old French verb traverser, meaning “to cross” or “to go across.” Two French nouns, travers and traverse, are also connected to the concept of crossing. The most common interpretation of the surname is that it was originally a nickname for a person who lived near a crossing point such as a bridge, a ford, or a gate on a city wall. In some cases the name may have been given to a toll‑collector who collected money at such a crossing. A note made by the Bishop of Norwich in 1285 states that he and his predecessors were accustomed to take “travers” at South Elmham in Suffolk for the upkeep of a bridge, illustrating the possible occupational linkage.
Other spellings that have appeared in historical documents include Traves, Travis and Traviss. Despite the variation in spelling, all forms share the same French root and the same basic meaning, as demonstrated by early examples such as Margareta Travas, recorded in the 1433 Gildersome Rolls of Yorkshire, and Ann Travis, found in a 1578 document from Burtonwood in Lancashire.
Throughout the medieval period the surname was mainly associated with individuals of pastoral and domestic occupations. The etymology implies a relationship to travel or crossing the path between places, either literally or metaphorically. It is therefore reasonable to infer that bearers of the name were either situated at important crossing points or that they moved frequently, either by choice or necessity.
Given its origins in the Norman‑French language and its early adoption in various regions of England, the surname Travers reflects the blending of cultures that characterised the post‑1066 period. The survival of the name into modern times attests to its enduring presence among families who can trace their ancestry back to medieval England and its Norman influence.
Typical given names associated with the Travers surname
Male
- Andrew
- David
- James
- John
- Mark
- Michael
- Patrick
- Paul
- Peter
- Robert
Female
- Catherine
- Elizabeth
- Emma
- Helen
- Julie
- Karen
- Kathleen
- Margaret
- Mary
- Patricia
- Sarah
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
- Tarver
- Tarvers
- Traiforos
- Travar
- Travas
- Trave
- Traveis
- Travels
- Traver
- Traverce
- Traversa
- Traversari
- Traverse
- Traversi
- Traverso
- Traversone
- Traversoni
- Travert
- Traves
- Travier
- Travis
- Traviss
- Travor
- Treaver
- Treavor
- Treever
- Treffers
- Trefor
- Trever
- Treverrow
- Trevers
- Treversh
- Trevoor
- Trevor
- Trevorow
- Trevors
- Trivers
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Travers in...
Braille
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Morse
-.-..-...-..-....
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There are approximately 4,808 people named Travers in the UK. That makes it roughly the 1,960th most common surname in Britain. Around 74 in a million people in Britain are named Travers.
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Famous people named Travers
- P. L. Travers - Australian-British novelist, actress and journalist (1899 to 1996)
- Mark Travers - Football player
- Morris Travers - Chemist (1872 to 1961)
- Susan Travers - Actress
- Will Travers - President of the Born Free Foundation
- John Travers - Actor from Northern Ireland
- Susan Travers - Member of French Foreign Legion (1909 to 2003)
- George Travers - Football player (1888 to 1946)
- Bunner Travers - Welsh rugby union player (1913 to 1998)
- Herbert Travers - Flying ace (1891 to 1958)
- Paul Travers - Quartermaster-General to the Forces (1927 to 1983)
- Sarah Travers - Irish journalist
- Paddy Travers - Football player and manager in the first half of the 20th century (1883 to 1962)
- George Travers - Welsh rugby union player (1877 to 1945)
- Dow Travers - Caymanian alpine skier
- Ken Travers - Australian politician
- Francis Travers - (1882 to 1950)
- Roderick Travers - (1831 to 1894)
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.