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Drever History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Citations

Drever History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Scotland

The name Drever was an occupational name for someone who was a "driver" or "drover" for someone who "drove a herd of cattle, especially to distant markets." 1 2 3

Another source goes into more detail: "driver, the driftman; on Moors the man employed to sweep together the colts and horses and cattle and sheep sent out on the commons, to a centre where the owners may claim them." 4

Early Origins of the Drever family

The surname Drever was first found in Cambridgeshire where Alice le Driveres was listed in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1279. Later, Gilbert le Drivere was listed in the Subsidy Rolls for Suffolk in 1283. 5 Both of these entries point to the occupational nature of the name as for the latter, means "Gilbert the Driver."

The Lay Subsidy (Rylands) for Lancashire show William le Dryver, as holding lands there in 1332 and the Writs of Parliament includes entries for John le Drivere and Richard le Drivere, c. 1300. The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 lists Johannes Dryver as holding lands at that time. 3

"The name of Driver is well represented in the district of Ely, [Cambridgeshire]. It is also established in Lancashire and Yorkshire. In the 17th century a gentle family of the name resided at Avening, Gloucestershire." 6

Early History of the Drever family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Drever research. Another 85 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1279, 1332, 1563 and 1667 are included under the topic Early Drever History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Drever Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years the English language had no fixed system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations occurred commonly in Anglo Norman surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Drever were recorded, including Driver, Dryver and others.

Early Notables of the Drever family

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

Drever migration to the United States +

The unstable environment in England at this time caused numerous families to board ships and leave in search of opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad in places like Ireland, Australia, and particularly the New World. The voyage was extremely difficult, however, and only taken at great expense. The cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels caused many to arrive diseased and starving, not to mention destitute from the enormous cost. Still opportunity in the emerging nations of Canada and the United States was far greater than at home and many went on to make important contributions to the cultures of their adopted countries. An examination of many early immigration records reveals that people bearing the name Drever arrived in North America very early:

Drever Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Harvey Drever, who was naturalized in Philadelphia in 1856
James Drever, aged 11, who arrived in America from Glasgow, Scotland, in 1894

Drever Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Thomas Drever, aged 2, who arrived in America from Glasgow, in 1903
William Drever, aged 29, who arrived in America from Kirkwall, Scotland, in 1907
Jane Drever, aged 47, who arrived in America from Berwick, Scotland, in 1907
Jane Drever, aged 29, who arrived in America from Kirkwall, Scotland, in 1907
Margt. J. Drever, aged 1, who arrived in America from Kirkwall, Scotland, in 1907
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Drever migration to Australia +

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

Drever Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Eliza Drever, aged 30, a servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1852 aboard the ship "Amazon" 7

Drever 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:

Drever Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. William Drever, British settler travelling from London via Cobh aboard the ship "Sir George Pollock" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 5th September 1859 8

Contemporary Notables of the name Drever (post 1700) +

Ronald W.P. Drever, Scottish experimental physicist, Professor Emeritus at the California Institute of Technology, co-recipient of the 2007 Einstein Prize
James Drever (1910-1991), Scottish academic, the 1st Principal of the University of Dundee, son of James Drever, the Scottish psychologist
Kris Drever, Scottish contemporary folk musician and songwriter
James Drever FRSE (1873-1950), Scottish educational psychologist, the first Professor of Psychology at a Scottish university
Constance Drever (b. 1948), British actress and singer

Citations +

Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Baring-Gould S., Family Names and their Story. London: Seeley, Service & Co. Limited, 1913. Print
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
South Australian Register Tuesday 3 February 1852. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) AMAZON 1852. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/amazon1852.shtml
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html