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Beaver History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Citations

Beaver History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Germany

The name Beaver was brought to England by the Normans when they conquered the country in 1066. The ancestors of the Beaver family lived in Berkshire. The family name, however, is of other geographical derivations, referring to any of several locations in Normandy called Beauvoir. The name is composed of the Old French roots beu, which means fair or lovely, and voir, which means to see, and indicates the bearer's residence in "a place with a fine view." 1 2

Early Origins of the Beaver family

The surname Beaver was first found in Yorkshire where Ralph de Belueeir was listed in the Pipe Rolls of 1170. Later, John de Beauveir was listed in the Assize Rolls for 1204 and William Bever, de Beuver in the Curia Regis Rolls for 1207-1208. 3

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 included the following: (Prior) de Beuver (Nottinghamshire), or Beauver (Leicestershire); John de Beauver, Yorkshire; and Thurstan de Beauver, Yorkshire. 4

Another early roll notes: John de Beauver, Yorkshire, Henry III-Edward I: Testa de Nevill, sive Liber Feodorum, temp. Henry III-Edward I. 5

Early History of the Beaver family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Beaver research. Another 81 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Beaver History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Beaver Spelling Variations

The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries. For that reason, spelling variations are common among many Anglo-Norman names. The shape of the English language was frequently changed with the introduction of elements of Norman French, Latin, and other European languages; even the spelling of literate people's names were subsequently modified. Beaver has been recorded under many different variations, including Beaver, Beavor, Beavers, Beavors, Beavoirs, Beevers and many more.

Early Notables of the Beaver family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

Sir Bevis Beaver

Beaver Ranking

In the United States, the name Beaver is the 1,757^th most popular surname with an estimated 17,409 people with that name. 6

Beaver migration to the United States +

To escape the uncertainty of the political and religious uncertainty found in England, many English families boarded ships at great expense to sail for the colonies held by Britain. The passages were expensive, though, and the boats were unsafe, overcrowded, and ridden with disease. Those who were hardy and lucky enough to make the passage intact were rewarded with land, opportunity, and social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families went on to be important contributors to the young nations of Canada and the United States where they settled. Beavers were some of the first of the immigrants to arrive in North America:

Beaver Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Matthew Beaver, who arrived in Virginia in 1638
Mathew Beaver, who arrived in Virginia in 1638 7
Charles Beaver, who landed in Maryland in 1666 7
Francis Beaver, who landed in Maryland in 1668 7
Richard Beaver, who landed in Maryland in 1674 7
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Beaver Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Geo Dewalt Beaver, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1732 7
John Geo Beaver, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1732 7
Harts Jacob Beaver, aged 19, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1741 7
Dieble Beaver, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1741 7
Mr. Beaver, who settled in Boston Massachusetts in 1766
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Beaver Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Thomas Beaver, aged 20, who arrived in Delaware in 1812 7
Mary Beaver, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1851 7
Michael Beaver, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1851 7
G W Beaver, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1851 7
J. Beaver, who was on record in San Francisco, California in 1852
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Beaver migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Beaver Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Elizabeth Beaver who settled in Fort Cumberland in Nova Scotia in 1745
Elizabeth Beaver, aged 30, who arrived in Fort Cumberland, Nova Scotia in 1775

Beaver migration to Australia +

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

Beaver Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

William Beaver, a carpenter, who arrived in New South Wales, Australia sometime between 1825 and 1832
William Beaver, English Convict from York, who was transported aboard the "Aboukir" on December 24, 1851, settling in Van Diemen's Land, Australia 8

Beaver 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:

Beaver Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Edwin Beaver, aged 21, a farm labourer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Dallam Tower" in 1875

Contemporary Notables of the name Beaver (post 1700) +

James Addams Beaver (1837-1914), American Republican politician, attorney, recruiter and field commander of Pennsylvania Infantry who was wounded four times during the Civil War, and politician who served as the 20th Governor of Pennsylvania from 1887 to 1891; he also served as the acting president of the Pennsylvania State University from 1906 to 1908 9
Robert Beaver (b. 1949), American experimental film maker
Paul Beaver (1926-1975), American jazz musician and a pioneer in popular electronic music, using the Moog synthesizer
Louise Beaver (1902-1962), American film and television actress
James Norman "Jim" Beaver Jr. (b. 1950), American stage, film, and television actor, playwright, screenwriter, and film historian
Mary E. Beaver, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Illinois, 1928 9
John V. Beaver, American Republican politician, U.S. Representative from Indiana 5th District; Elected 1952 9
Jefferson A. Beaver, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from California, 1956, 1960 9
James R. Beaver, American politician, Mayor of Kennewick, Washington, 1996- 9
J. A. Beaver, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for Missouri State House of Representatives from Laclede County, 1950 9
... (Another 12 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Citations +

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)
Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Testa de Nevill or "Liber Feodorum" or "Book of Fees," thought to have been written by Ralph de Nevill, for King John (1199–1216)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
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)
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2014, November 18) Aboukir voyage to Van Diemen's Land and Norfolk Island. [These convicts appear to have all landed in Van Diemen's Land], Australia in 1851 with 280 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/aboukir/1851
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 13) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html