Contents [hide]

Calvert History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables World Ranking

Ireland United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Motto Suggested Reading Citations

Calvert History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland
Scotland

Calvert is a name that first reached England following the Norman Conquest in 1066. It is a name for a person who tended cattle. 1

"Calvert is a characteristic Yorkshire name, and is at present best represented in the Richmond district, but still survives in York. The Calverts, of Danby Wiske, were an old North Riding family. Sir George Calvert, the first lord of Baltimore and the first planter in Maryland, was from this stock." 2

Early Origins of the Calvert family

The surname Calvert was first found in Yorkshire where one of the first records of the name was Warin le Calvehird. The name was originally spelt Calbert or Caubert, having been derived from Abbeville, France and no doubt some of the family came to England during the Conquest and seen by David de Calvert holding lands by knight service in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire in 1203. 3

But Yorkshire would be the stronghold of the name as seen by the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 listing: Johanna Calfhird; Johannes Calvehyrd; and Magota Calvehird who were all listed in that shire. 1

Further to the north in Scotland, "Johannes Calfhyrd witnessed confirmation of Snadoun to the Abbey of Dryburgh, c. 1350. William Calwart, notary public in Arnbroath, 1467, and another William Cauart in the regality of Arnbroath is mentioned, 1535." 4

Early History of the Calvert family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Calvert research. Another 227 words (16 lines of text) covering the years 1269, 1404, 1563, 1567, 1579, 1601, 1605, 1606, 1611, 1624, 1628, 1632, 1637, 1647, 1669, 1675, 1679, 1688, 1715, 1734 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Calvert History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Calvert Spelling Variations

Before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Sound was what guided spelling in the Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Calvert family name include Calvert, Calbert, Calverte, Calvart, Celvert, Kelvert, Kallvart, Kalvart, Callvert, Callbert, Cellvert, Calwert, Cavart, Cailvairt, Calwart and many more.

Early Notables of the Calvert family

Notable amongst the family name during their early history was

George Calvert, 1st Baron Baltimore, (1579-1632), 8th Proprietary Governor of Newfoundland, an English politician and colonizer, namesake of Baltimore, Maryland
Cecilius Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore (1605-1675), an English peer, the first Proprietor and Proprietary Governor of the Province of Maryland, and ninth Proprietary Governor of the Colony of Newfoundl...
Leonard Calvert (1606-1647), the 1st Proprietary Governor of Maryland

Calvert World Ranking

In the United States, the name Calvert is the 1,747^th most popular surname with an estimated 17,409 people with that name. 5 However, in New Zealand, the name Calvert is ranked the 862^nd most popular surname with an estimated 849 people with that name. 6 And in the United Kingdom, the name Calvert is the 853^rd popular surname with an estimated 7,946 people with that name. 7

Migration of the Calvert family to Ireland

Some of the Calvert family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 123 words (9 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Calvert migration to the United States +

To escape the political and religious chaos of this era, thousands of English families began to migrate to the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. The passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe; however, those who made the voyage safely were encountered opportunities that were not available to them in their homeland. Many of the families that reached the New World at this time went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations of the United States and Canada. Research into various historical records has revealed some of first members of the Calvert family to immigrate North America:

Calvert Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Cecilius Calvert (circa 1605-75), Baron Baltimore received the province of Maryland in 1632 as a grant from the king, in place of his father, George Calvert, who died as the charter was being issued
Mary Calvert, who landed in Virginia in 1622 8
Mr. George Calvert, who left England and arrived in Maryland in 1634 aboard the ship "Ark and Dove" 8
Mr. Leonard Calvert, (1606 - 1947), who left England and arrived in Maryland in 1634 aboard the ship "Ark and Dove" 1st Governor of Maryland. 8
John Calvert, who landed in Virginia in 1643 8
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Calvert Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

George Calvert, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1704-1708 8
Joshua Calvert, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1712 8
Mary William Calvert, who settled in Georgia in 1732
William Calvert, who arrived in Georgia in 1732 8
Peter Calvert, aged 23, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1777 8
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Calvert Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Ann Calvert, aged 24, who arrived in New York, NY in 1803 8
William Calvert, aged 33, who landed in New York, NY in 1803 8
Thomas Calvert, who landed in New York in 1831 8
Henry Calvert, who landed in New York in 1836 8
James Calvert, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1848 8
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Calvert migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Calvert Settlers in Canada in the 17th Century

Sir George Calvert (c. 1580-1632), 1st Baron Baltimore planted the Colony in Avalon in Newfoundland in 1621 before working toward the settlement in Maryland that would one day bear the name Baltimore. He visited his American possessions in 1627 and in 1629

Calvert Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

William Calvert, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1749
Jane Calvert, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1774

Calvert migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Calvert Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Thomas Calvert, British convict who was convicted in York, England for life, transported aboard the "Asia" on 19th November 1827, settling in New South Wales, Australia 9
Mr. William Calvert, British convict who was convicted in York, England for life, transported aboard the "Asia" on 19th November 1827, settling in New South Wales, Australia 9
Mr. George Calvert who was convicted in West Riding, Yorkshire, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Circassian" on 4th November 1832, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 10
Mr. Henry Calvert, (b. 1810), aged 24, English convict who was convicted in Lancaster, Lancashire, England for 7 years for robbery, transported aboard the "Bengal Merchant" on 27th September 1834, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 11
John Calvert, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Mount Stuart Elphinstone" in 1851 12

Calvert migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Calvert Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

W Calvert, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1842 aboard the ship London
William Calvert, who arrived in Port Nicholson aboard the ship "London" in 1842
John Calvert, aged 24, a farm labourer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Oliver Lang" in 1856
Mr. William Calvert, (b. 1807), aged 52, English tin man from Durham travelling from London aboard the ship "Zealandia" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 14th November 1859 13
Mrs. Elizabeth Calvert, (b. 1817), aged 42, English settler from Durham travelling from London aboard the ship "Zealandia" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 14th November 1859 13
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Calvert (post 1700) +

Timothy K. "Tim" Calvert (1965-2018), American metal guitarist from Alameda County, California
Madren Elbern "John" Calvert (1911-2013), American magician and actor who appeared in over forty films in the 1940s through the 1950s
Vice Admiral James F. Calvert (1920-2009), United States Navy Officer who commanded the USS Skate, the first nuclear submarine to surface at the North Pole
Philip Powell Calvert (1871-1961), American entomologist
Pearce Reginald Hartley Calvert (1928-1966), English artist manager, born in Huddersfield, Yorkshire, England
Claire Louise Calvert (b. 1988), English ballet dancer and is a first soloist at the Royal Ballet
Margaret Calvert OBE (b. 1936), English typographer and graphic artist who co-designed many of the road signs used throughout the United Kingdom
Phyllis Calvert (1915-2002), English film, stage and television actress, one of the leading stars of the Gainsborough melodramas of the 1940s including The Man in Grey (1943)
Bernie Calvert (b. 1942), English bassist who played bass guitar and keyboards with The Hollies from 1966 until 1981
Robert Newton Calvert (1945-1988), South African-born, British writer, poet, and musician
... (Another 7 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Calvert family +

HMS Prince of Wales

Mr. Joseph N Calvert, British Chief Stoker, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking, also sailed aboard the HMS Stronghold 14

SS Atlantic

Ann Calvert, who was traveling aboard the ship "SS Atlantic" when it struck rocks off Nova Scotia in 1873, died in the sinking
Mr.David Calvert, who was traveling aboard the ship "SS Atlantic" when it struck rocks off Nova Scotia in 1873, died in the sinking

The Calvert Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Fatti masghii parole femine
Motto Translation: Deeds are masculine, words feminine.

Citations +

Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
"UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 8th January 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/asia/1827
Convict Records of Australia. Retrieved 8th February 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/circassian
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 7th October 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/bengal-merchant
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) MOUNT STUART ELPHINSTONE 1851. Retrieved http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1851MountStuartElphinstone.gif
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html