Heavillay History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland
Scotland

Heavillay is a name of ancient Anglo-Saxon origin and comes from the family once having lived in either of the settlements called Everley in Wiltshire or the West Riding of Yorkshire. The surname Heavillay belongs to the large category of Anglo-Saxon habitation names, which are derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads.

Early Origins of the Heavillay family

The surname Heavillay was first found in North Yorkshire at Everley or at Everleigh in Wiltshire. Both are rather old villages. Everley in Yorkshire dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086 where it was listed as Eurelai 1 and Everleigh in Wiltshire dates back further to Saxon times when it was listed as Eburleagh. Both have similar origins in that they both literally mean "wood or clearing frequented by wild boars," from the Old English words "eofar" + "leah." 2

Everley in Wiltshire "at the time of the heptarchy, was the residence of Ina, King of the West Saxons; it subsequently belonged for many generations to the Plantagenets, dukes of Lancaster, and eventually became vested in the crown, as the property of Henry of Bolingbroke, afterwards Henry IV. " 3

Early English rolls provide us a glimpse of the spelling variations used through Medieval times: Ailward de Euerlay was listed in the Pipe Rolls of 1200 for Warwickshire; William de Everley in Yorkshire in 1247; and William de Euerley in the Subsidy Rolls for Worcestershire in 1346. 4

Further to the north in Scotland, this branch claims descent from "Everley in the North Riding, Yorkshire. Johannes de Euerlay, canon of Dunkeld, was papal commissioner, 1248 and also in 1250-1251 was witness to a charter by Geoffrey, bishop of Dunkeld. As Johannes de Evirlay or Ewerlay he is a charter witness in Perth in reigns of Alexander II and III. He may be Master John de Enerleya (u misread n), apparently a churchman, who attested a charter to Abbey of Culross, c. 1231." 5

Early History of the Heavillay family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Heavillay research. Another 87 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1268, 1511, 1554, 1586, 1639 and 1664 are included under the topic Early Heavillay History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Heavillay Spelling Variations

Sound was what guided spelling in the essentially pre-literate Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Also, before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Therefore, spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Heavillay family name include Everley, Eveleigh, Eveley, Evelley, Everlie and others.

Early Notables of the Heavillay family

Another 36 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Heavillay Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Heavillay family to Ireland

Some of the Heavillay family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Heavillay family

For political, religious, and economic reasons, thousands of English families boarded ships for Ireland, Canada, the America colonies, and many of smaller tropical colonies in the hope of finding better lives abroad. Although the passage on the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving, those families that survived the trip often went on to make valuable contributions to those new societies to which they arrived. Early immigrants bearing the Heavillay surname or a spelling variation of the name include: Katherine Everley who settled in Virginia in 1654; Simon Everley settled in Philadelphia in 1753.

Citations +

Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)