Show ContentsCoverly History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Coverly family

The surname Coverly was first found in Buckinghamshire where two early records of the family were found in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273: Malger de Covele; and Bartholemew de Covele. 1 Coberley is a village and civil parish in the Cotswold District of Gloucestershire. In this case, the village dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086 where it was first known as Culberlege. 2 Literally the place name means "wood or clearing of a man called Cuthbrorht," from the Ole English personal name + "leah." 3 Both name are local names.

Sir Roger de Coverley is the name of an English and Scottish country dance mentioned in Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol (1843) and later in the 1939 film version of Wuthering Heights, and more. The English composer Frank Bridge used the tradional tune as the basis of a work for strings titled Sir Roger de Coverly (A Christmas Dance) in 1922.

Early History of the Coverly family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Coverly research. Another 82 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1273, 1398, 1399, 1401, 1407, 1455 and 1487 are included under the topic Early Coverly History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Coverly Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Coverly, Coveley, Covelly, Coverlly, Coberley and others.

Early Notables of the Coverly family

More information is included under the topic Early Coverly Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Canada Coverly migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Coverly Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Mr. Joseph Coverly U.E. who settled in Thurlow [Belleville], Ontario c. 1783 4

Contemporary Notables of the name Coverly (post 1700) +

  • Dave Coverly (b. 1964), American creator of the comic "Speed Bump"


  1. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  2. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  3. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  4. 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


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