Show ContentsCalvar History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Calvar is of Anglo-Saxon origin and came from when the family lived in the village of Calver, which is in Derbyshire, England. The name descends from Calver which was listed in the Domesday Book as Caluore. 1

Early Origins of the Calvar family

The surname Calvar was first found in Derbyshire at Calver, a township, in the parish and union of Bakewell, hundred of High Peak. 2

Early History of the Calvar family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Calvar research. Another 102 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1086, 1620 and 1649 are included under the topic Early Calvar History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Calvar Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Calvar are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. Scribes and monks in the Middle Ages spelled names they sounded, so it is common to find several variations that refer to a single person. The variations of the name Calvar include: Calver, Callver, Calvar, Carver and others.

Early Notables of the Calvar family

Notables of this surname at this time include: Edward Calver (fl. 1649), an English poet and Puritan. "The inscription under his portrait describes him as a 'Gent. of Wilbie, in the county of Suffolk.'...
Another 33 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Calvar Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Calvar family

Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Calvar or a variant listed above: Jean Calver who settled in Virginia in 1714 with his wife and five children; Andrew Calver settled in Philadelphia in 1874; James Calver arrived in Philadelphia in 1817.



  1. Barber, Henry, British Family Names London: Elliot Stock, 62 Paternoster Row, 1894. Print.
  2. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.


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