Scovill History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The proud Scovill family originated in Cornwall, a rugged coastal region in southwestern England. In early times, people were known by only a single name. However, as the population grew and people traveled further afield, it became increasingly necessary to assume an additional name to differentiate between bearers of the same personal name. The manner in which hereditary surnames arose is interesting. Local surnames are derived from where the original bearer lived, was born, or held land. The Scovill family originally lived in Cornwall. Their name however, is derived from the village of Scoville, Normandy, where the family lived before arriving with the Norman Conquest in the 11th century.

Early Origins of the Scovill family

The surname Scovill was first found in Cornwall where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor of St. Austell and also having branches at Mavaggissey, Polrudden, Tregonnan and Menagwins. Another reference claims this name in old Cornish language signifies broom-plant. "The family have flourished for a long series of generations, in knightly and gentle degree, in that part of England." 1 The first one record was Thomas de Scobbahull, Sheriff of Devon in 1291. 2

"Although Menagwins [Cornwall] exhibits at present no other dwelling than a farm-house, it still retains several memorials of departed grandeur that were the companions of its former fame. In the days of Charles I. it was the seat of Richard Scobell, who was afterwards clerk of the parliament under Oliver Cromwell. About a century ago it was the habitation of Francis Scobell, Esq. who married one of the co-heiresses of Sir John Tredinham, knight." 3

Early History of the Scovill family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Scovill research. Another 119 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1291, 1610, 1648 and 1660 are included under the topic Early Scovill History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Scovill Spelling Variations

Cornish surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. The frequent changes in surnames are due to the fact that the Old and Middle English languages lacked definite spelling rules. The official court languages, which were Latin and French, were also influential on the spelling of a surname. Since the spelling of surnames was rarely consistent in medieval times, and scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded rather than adhering to any specific spelling rules, it was common to find the same individual referred to with different spellings of their surname in the ancient chronicles. Moreover, a large number of foreign names were brought into England, which accelerated and accentuated the alterations to the spelling of various surnames. Lastly, spelling variations often resulted from the linguistic differences between the people of Cornwall and the rest of England. The Cornish spoke a unique Brythonic Celtic language which was first recorded in written documents during the 10th century. However, they became increasingly Anglicized, and Cornish became extinct as a spoken language in 1777, although it has been revived by Cornish patriots in the modern era. The name has been spelled Scobell, Scobel, Schobell, Schobel, Scobahull, Scobbahull, Scobhull, Scobhill, Scoble, Scobal and many more.

Early Notables of the Scovill family

Notable amongst the family at this time was Thomas Scobbahull, Sheriff of Devon; and Henry Scobell (c. 1610-1660), an English Parliamentary official, and clerk to the Long Parliament. "He is said to have been born at Menagwin in St. Austell, Cornwall, and to have owned...
Another 45 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Scovill Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Scovill migration to Canada +

In the immigration and passenger lists a number of early immigrants bearing the name Scovill were found:

Scovill Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Rev. James Scovill U.E. born in Waterbury, Connecticut, USA who settled in Kingston, Kings County, New Brunswick c. 1784 he died in 1809 4

Contemporary Notables of the name Scovill (post 1700) +

Joseph Scovill, American politician, Member of Connecticut State House of Representatives from Haddam, 1823 5
James Mitchell Lamson Scovill (b. 1789), American politician, Member of Connecticut State House of Representatives from Waterbury, 1826; Member of Connecticut State Senate 5th District, 1834 5
Horace C. Scovill, American politician, Mayor of Rockford, Illinois, 1887-89 5
Henry R. Scovill, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for Presidential Elector for Michigan, 1924 5
Edward W. Scovill, American politician, Member of New York State Assembly from Columbia County, 1903-06 5
Charles W. Scovill, American Republican politician, Member of Connecticut State House of Representatives from Haddam; Elected 1908 5
Amherst Scovill, American politician, Member of Connecticut State House of Representatives from Columbia, 1823, 1835 5
Alfred H. Scovill, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for Connecticut State House of Representatives from Watertown, 1908 5

Citations +

Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Worth, R.N., A History of Devonshire London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, E.G., 1895. Digital
Hutchins, Fortescue, The History of Cornwall, from the Earliest Records and Traditions to the Present Time. London: William Penaluna, 1824. Print
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 14) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html