Show ContentsIvey History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Anglo-Saxon name Ivey comes from the baptismal name Ive. The surname Ivey referred to the son of Ive [1] which belongs to the category of patronymic surnames. In Old English, patronyms were formed by adding a variety of suffixes to personal names, which changed over time and from place to place. For example, after the Norman Conquest, sunu and sune, which meant son, were the most common patronymic suffixes. In the 12th and 13th centuries, the most common patronymic names included the word filius, which meant son. By the 14th century, the suffix son had replaced these earlier versions. Surnames that were formed with filius or son were more common in the north of England and it was here that the number of individuals without surnames was greatest at this time.

Early Origins of the Ivey family

The surname Ivey was first found in Oxfordshire where Geoffrey de Iuoi de Iuei was listed in the Pipe Rolls 1162-1163. [2] Another source confirms this entry, but notes that the same person had a pardon in Oxfordshire in 1156 and that he was also listed in the Pipe Rolls there in 1157. [3]

Another source postulates that the name was a "descendant of Ivo (yew); one who came from St. Ives, the name of several places in England." [4]

And another notes that "Ivey is a name that has been represented in Egloshayle, [Cornwall] in the forms of Ivy and Ivye, as far back as the reign of Henry VIII." [5]

Early History of the Ivey family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ivey research. Another 140 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1461, 1502, 1569, 1595, 1639, 1641, 1644, 1646, 1648, 1678, 1692, 1696, 1700, 1702, 1717 and 1745 are included under the topic Early Ivey History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ivey Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years, the English language had no fast system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations are commonly found in early Anglo-Saxon surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Ivey were recorded, including Ivey, Ivye, Ivie and others.

Early Notables of the Ivey family

Notables of the family at this time include Thomas Ivie, an English colonial administrator, the third agent of Madras from 1644 to 1648. He organized the first Hindu temple constructed in Madras since the English acquisition in 1646. Edward Ivie (1678-1745), was a Latin poet, born in 1678, was admitted a foundation...
Another 51 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Ivey Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ivey Ranking

In the United States, the name Ivey is the 1,218th most popular surname with an estimated 24,870 people with that name. [6]


United States Ivey migration to the United States +

To escape oppression and starvation at that time, many English families left for the "open frontiers" of the New World with all its perceived opportunities. In droves people migrated to the many British colonies, those in North America in particular, paying high rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Although many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, those who did see the shores of North America perceived great opportunities before them. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Research into various historical records revealed some of first members of the Ivey family emigrate to North America:

Ivey Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Robert Ivey, who landed in Virginia in 1662 [7]
Ivey Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • William Henry Ivey, who arrived in New York, NY in 1834 [7]
  • William Ivey, who settled in New York in 1834
  • Mr. Wearne Ivey, (b. 1815), aged 22, Cornish miner departing from Falmouth aboard the ship "Royal Adelaide" arriving in the United States on 8th May 1837 [8]
  • Mrs. Sally Ivey, (b. 1817), aged 20, Cornish settler departing from Falmouth aboard the ship "Royal Adelaide" arriving in the United States on 8th May 1837 [8]
  • Mr. E. Ivey, (b. 1801), aged 40, Cornish settler departing from Falmouth aboard the ship "Royal Adelaide" arriving in the United States on 25 May 1841 [8]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Ivey Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Miss Kate Ivey, (b. 1877), aged 26, Cornish settler travelling aboard the ship "New York" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 12th September 1903 en route to Mamaroneck, New York, USA [9]
  • Mr. William Benjamin Ivey, (b. 1874), aged 31, American miner returning from Camborne, Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship "Umbria" arriving at Ellis Island, New York in 1905 en route to Butte, Montana, USA [9]
  • Mr. John Ivey, (b. 1874), aged 31, Cornish miner travelling aboard the ship "Philadelphia" arriving at Ellis Island, New York in 1905 en route to Houghton, Michigan, USA [9]

Australia Ivey migration to Australia +

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

Ivey Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Simon Ivey, aged 21, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Sultana" in 1851 [10]
  • Harriet Ivey, aged 19, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Sultana" in 1851 [10]
  • Simon Ivey, aged 21, a miner, who arrived in South Australia in 1851 aboard the ship "Sultana" [10]
  • Mary Ivey, aged 26, a domestic servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1853 aboard the ship "William Stuart" [11]
  • Richard Ivey, aged 47, who arrived in South Australia in 1854 aboard the ship "Thetis" [12]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Ivey Settlers in Australia in the 20th Century
  • Mr. Richard Ivey, (b. 1858), aged 71, Cornish labourer who immigrated to New South Wales, Australia in convicted at Maitland Gaol on 28th May 1929 [13]

New Zealand Ivey 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:

Ivey Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mr. John Ivey, (b. 1852), aged 23, Cornish farm labourer departing on 12th October 1875 aboard the ship "Caroline" going to Napier, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand arriving in port on 31st January 1876 [14]
  • Mr. Evan Ivey, (b. 1854), aged 21, Cornish farm labourer departing on 21st February 1875 aboard the ship "White Rose" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 21st July 1875 [15]
  • John Ivey, aged 21, a farm labourer, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Caroline" in 1876 [16]
  • Miss Jane Ivey, (b. 1850), aged 26, Cornish servant departing on 29th November 1876 aboard the ship "Oxford" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 1st March 1877 [17]
  • Mr. Joseph Ivey, (b. 1859), aged 19, Cornish farm labourer departing on 10th August 1878 aboard the ship "Hydaspes" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 9th November 1878
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Ivey (post 1700) +

  • Artis Leon Ivey Jr. (1963-2022), known professionally as Coolio, an American rapper, record producer, and actor who achieved mainstream success in the mid-to-late 1990s
  • Kay Ellen Ivey (b. 1944), American Republican politician, 30th Lieutenant Governor of Alabama (2011-) [18]
  • Bill Ivey, American folklorist, 7th Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts
  • Phil Ivey (b. 1976), American professional poker player
  • Mitchell "Mitch" Ivey (b. 1949), American Olympic silver and bronze medalist swimmer
  • Dana Ivey (b. 1942), American five-time Tony award nominated actress, inductee into the American Theatre Hall of Fame (2008)
  • Judith Ivey (b. 1951), American two-time Tony Award winning, Primetime Emmy Award nominated actress
  • John E. Ivey Jr. (1919-1992), American educator, executive vice–president at New York University (1957), member of the panel that recommended to John F. Kennedy the creation of the Peace Corps
  • Jolene Ivey (b. 1961), American politician, Member of the Maryland House of Delegates (2003-)
  • Jean Eichelberger Ivey (1923-2010), American composer of chamber, vocal, orchestral works
  • ... (Another 13 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

USS Arizona
  • Mr. Charles Andrew Ivey Jr., American Seaman Second Class from California, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking [19]


  1. Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
  2. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  3. 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)
  4. Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
  5. Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
  6. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  7. 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)
  8. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, April 30). Emigrants to New York 1820 - 1891 [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_new_york_1820_1891.pdf
  9. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_ellis_island_1892_on.pdf
  10. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) SULTANA 1851. Retrieved http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1851Sultana.htm
  11. South Australian Register Friday 15 July 1853. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) William Stuart 1853. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/williamstuart1853.shtml
  12. South Australian Register Friday 1st September 1854. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Emigrant 1854. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/thetis1854.shtml
  13. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retreived 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_nsw_gaol_admissions.pdf
  14. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, April 30). Emigrants to other ports, 1872 - 84 [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/new_zealand_assisted.pdf
  15. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, April 30). Emigrants to Lyttelton 1858-84 [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/new_zealand_assisted.pdf
  16. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 5th November 2010). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  17. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, April 30). Emigrants to Auckland 1872-80 [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/new_zealand_assisted.pdf
  18. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2013, June 24) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  19. Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html


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