Show ContentsHarvie History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Harvie reached England in the great wave of migration following the Norman Conquest of 1066. It is based on the Breton personal name Aeruiu or Haerviu. It is composed of the elements haer, which means battle or carnage, and vy, which means worthy. The name was commonly introduced to England in its Gallic form Hervé.1

"This surname is derived from the name of an ancestor. 'the son of Harvey.' This great personal name had not become so rare in the 12th and 13th centuries that it could escape surnominal honours. On the contrary, it is still found as a fairly familiar personal name up to the beginning of the 14th century. " 2

Hervey or Hervaeus (d. 1131), was "bishop successively of Bangor and Ely, of Breton race, was a royal clerk, high in favour with William Rufus and confessor to Henry I. " 3

Early Origins of the Harvie family

The surname Harvie was first found in the Domesday Book of 1086 where the Latin form of the name, Herveus, was first used. Herueu de berruarius was also listed in Suffolk at that time. 4

Herueide Caster was recorded in Lincolnshire 1157-1163. Later in Suffolk, Willelmus filius Hervici was listed in the Feet of Fines of 1242 and William Hervi, Herevi was listed in the Curia Regis Rolls of 1196. William Hervy was found in the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1232 and later, Richard Herfu was found in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1327. 1

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 listed early spellings of the name as both a personal name and a surname: Harvey Dunnyng and Warin Hervi in Cambridgeshire; Robert filius Hervei in Lincolnshire; and Herveus le Gos, in Lincolnshire. 2

"As a family designation it appears in England in the XII. cent. Osbert de Hervey is styled, in the register of St. Edmundsbury, the son of Hervey. From him according to the Peerage sprang the Herveys, ennobled in England and Ireland, and also (in all probability, from the resemblance of their arms) the De Hervi's and Hervies of Aberdeenshire and other parts of Scotland." 5

Distribution of the surname throughout Britain is most interesting. "Well distributed over England south of a line drawn from Hull to Chester. North of that line its frequency abruptly ceases. It is best represented in Essex, Hants, and Kent, and then in Corwall, Devon, Staffordshire, Notts, Norfolk, and Suffolk. Its preference for the coast counties, especially those in the south - east of England from Kent to Norfolk, is to be remarked." 6

Early History of the Harvie family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Harvie research. Another 155 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1200, 1540, 1578, 1586, 1601, 1611, 1616, 1624, 1629, 1642, 1657, 1660, 1661, 1673, 1679, 1680 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Harvie History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Harvie Spelling Variations

Spelling variations in names were a common occurrence in the eras before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate regularly changed the spellings of their names as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Harvie have been found, including Harvey, Hervey, Hervie, Harvie and others.

Early Notables of the Harvie family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was William Harvey (1578-1657), an English physician, first to describe in detail the systemic circulation and properties of blood being pumped to the body by the heart; Sir William Hervey (1586-1660), an English politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1624 and 1629; Edmund Harvey or Hervey (c.1601-1673), an English soldier and member of Parliament during the English Civil War, who sat as a commissioner at the Trial of King Charles I and helped...
Another 83 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Harvie Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Harvie family to Ireland

Some of the Harvie family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 107 words (8 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Harvie migration to the United States +

For many English families, the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. For such families, the shores of Ireland, Australia, and the New World beckoned. They left their homeland at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. Many arrived after the long voyage sick, starving, and without a penny. But even those were greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. Numerous English settlers who arrived in the United States and Canada at this time went on to make important contributions to the developing cultures of those countries. Many of those families went on to make significant contributions to the rapidly developing colonies in which they settled. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Harvie were among those contributors:

Harvie Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Samwell Harvie, who landed in Virginia in 1622 7
  • Alexander Harvie, aged 15, who arrived in Virginia in 1635 7
  • Ann Harvie, aged 22, from St. Albans, who arrived in New England in 1635 aboard the ship "Planter", bound for Salem 7
  • Richard Harvie, aged 22, from St. Albans, who arrived in New England in 1635 aboard the ship "Planter", bound for Salem 7
  • Mr. Alexander Harvie, (b. 1620), aged 15, British settler traveling aboard the ship "Safety" arriving in Virginia in 1635 8
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Harvie Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Alexander Harvie, who landed in New York in 1774 7
Harvie Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Thomas Harvie, who arrived in Virginia in 1884 7
  • Margery Harvie, who arrived in Virginia in 1887 7
  • Dionys Harvie, who arrived in Virginia in 1887 7

Canada Harvie migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Harvie Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Archibald Harvie, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1760
  • James Harvie, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1760
  • John Harvie, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1760
  • James Harvie, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1761

Australia Harvie migration to Australia +

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

Harvie Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • John Harvie, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Palmyra" in 1839 9
  • Patience Harvie, aged 32, a domestic servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1854 aboard the ship "Sir Thomas Gresham" 10

New Zealand Harvie 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:

Harvie Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • William Harvie, aged 15, a labourer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Blenheim" in 1840
  • Alexander Harvie, aged 22, a wheelwright, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Rangitikei" in 1884

Contemporary Notables of the name Harvie (post 1700) +

  • John Harvie (1742-1807), American lawyer and builder from Virginia
  • Lewis E. Harvie (1809-1887), American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Virginia, 1860; Delegate to Virginia secession convention, 1861 11
  • Jacquelin Burwell Harvie (1788-1856), American politician, Delegate to Whig National Convention from Virginia, 1839; Member of Virginia State Senate 11
  • E. M. Harvie, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from New York, 1948 11
  • Andrew Harvie, American politician, Member of Michigan State Senate 1st District, 1850-51 11
  • Professor Christopher Harvie (b. 1944), Scottish historian and a Scottish National Party politician
  • Eric Lafferty Harvie OC (1892-1975), Canadian businessman and philanthropist. He was the founder of the Glenbow Museum
  • Patrick Harvie (b. 1973), Scottish politician, co-convenor of the Scottish Green Party
  • Iain Harvie (b. 1962), Scottish musician
  • Carl Harvie Probert (b. 1975), Fiji five-time Olympic swimmer and National Record holder, gold, two-time silver and bronze medalist


  1. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  2. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  3. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
  4. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  5. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  6. Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
  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. Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's. Retrieved October 5th 2021 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
  9. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) PALMYRA 1839. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1839Palmyra.htm
  10. South Australian Register Monday 20th March 1854. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Sir Thomas Gresham 1854. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/sirthomasgresham1854.shtml
  11. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 3) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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