Show ContentsIevynd History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Ievynd surname comes from the Welsh personal name Evan. The original form of the name was Jevon, which then became Yevan and Ieuan before taking on its present form. Evan is a cognate of the personal name John.

Early Origins of the Ievynd family

The surname Ievynd was first found in Lincolnshire. Early feudal rolls provided the king of the time a method of cataloguing holdings for taxation, but today they provide a glimpse into the wide surname spellings over the years. Alexander le iouene was the first on record followed by John le Jofne who was listed in the Curia Regis Rolls for 1200. Over 50 years later, Bartholomew le Joevene, le Juvene was found in Bedfordshire (1254-1269.) But before that, Robert le Joefne, le Jevene was listed in the Feet of Fines for Northumberland (1242-1255.) 1

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 include a listing for Heine filius Yevan in Salop (Shropshire.) "Jevons is an old name in Shropshire. Samuel Jevon was mayor of Shrewsbury in 1672 (Phillip's "Shrewsbury"). Jevans was the name of the bailiffs of Ludlow in 1538 and 1593." 2

Early History of the Ievynd family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ievynd research. Another 101 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1273, 1564, 1594, 1600, 1652, 1673, 1676, 1686, 1688, 1795, 1825, 1835, 1845, 1867 and 1882 are included under the topic Early Ievynd History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ievynd Spelling Variations

There are relatively few surnames native to Wales, but they have an inordinately large number of spelling variations. Early variations of Welsh surnames can be explained by the fact that very few people in the early Middle Ages were literate. Priests and the few other literate people were responsible for recording names in official documents. And because most people could not specific how to properly record their names it was up to the individual recorder of that time to determine how a spoken name should be recorded. Variations due to the imprecise or improper recording of a name continued later in history when names originally composed in the Brythonic Celtic, language of Wales, known by natives as Cymraeg, were transliterated into English. Welsh names that were documented in English often changed dramatically since the native language of Wales, which was highly inflected, did not copy well. Occasionally, however, spelling variations were carried out according to an individual's specific design: a branch loyalty within the family, a religious adherence, or even patriotic affiliations could be indicated by minor variations. The spelling variations of the name Ievynd have included Jeavon, Jeavons, Jevin, Jevan, Jevon, Jevons, Javin, Gevin, Gevinn, Ievan and many more.

Early Notables of the Ievynd family

Prominent amongst the family during the late Middle Ages was Thomas Jevon (1652-1688), actor and playwright. He was "a dancing-master, but worked his way on to the stage, and played leading low-comedy parts in London between 1673 and 1688. He appeared as Sneak in D'Urfey's 'Fond Husband' in 1676, and made a brilliant success as Harlequin in Mountford's farcical 'Dr. Faustus.' His only published play, and probably, as a contemporary manuscript note on one of the British Museum copies says, 'the only dramatick performance of Mr. Thos. Jevon,' was 'The Devil of a Wife; or a Comical Transformation,' which was licensed...
Another 161 words (12 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Ievynd Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Ievynd family to Ireland

Some of the Ievynd family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 51 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Ievynd family

During the latter half of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century, the people of Wales journeyed to North America to find a new life. They made major contributions to the arts, industry and commerce of both Canada and the United States, and added a rich cultural heritage to their newly adopted societies. A look at the immigration and passenger lists has shown a number of people bearing the name Ievynd: D. Gevinn, who sailed to New Orleans in 1820; Thomas Gevin, also to New Orleans, in 1823; and John Givin, who settled in Des Moines, Iowa by 1887.



  1. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  2. Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.


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