Pavitt History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The Pavitt surname is derived from the given name Pavia, popularly known as Pavey. 1 2 3

However, another source notes that name could have been "a nickname from a kind of Peach [French pavie; from the place-name]" 4

Early Origins of the Pavitt family

The surname Pavitt was first found in Warwickshire where Ricardus filius Pauee was listed 1156-1185. A few years later, Gillebertus filius Pauie was found in the Pipe Rolls for Somerset in 1172 and Pavia was found in the Curia Regis Rolls for Essex in 1206. Paveya (surname only) was found in the Assize Rolls for Yorkshire in 1219 as was Ribert Paui. Later, Richard Paveye was found in the Feet of Fines for Warwickshire in 1251. 5

"The name does not appear to have been very common in England. Walter Pavey is mentioned in 1222 in the Domesday of St. Paul's. Thomas Pavi and Alice his wife occur in Staffordshire in 1272, and N. Pawei in the Hundredorum Rolls of the same date. Henry Pavey of Chippenham, and John Pavey, each again married to an Alice, are found in Kent in the Feet of Fines for Kent in 1319. Richard Pavey was among the Esquires who were in the retinue of Thomas Earl of Arundel at Agincourt in 1415. The earliest mentioned is "Ricardo de Payee," who in 1183 witnesses Robert de Stafford's charter to Bordesley Abbey. They occur at a later date in several other counties. Two of the name, William Pavey, obt. 1725, and Mary, wife of Robert Pavey, obt. 1770, lie buried in Bruton churchyard, Somerset. A small tablet of very ancient date, suspended in the centre arch of Stapleford Church, and inscribed with the old version of the first Psalm, bears the name of William Pavie." 6

To the north in Cumberland (Cumbria) the source, Estates and Families of Cumberland notes that Pavia was widow of Robert de Grinsdale. 'In the 12th year of King Henry III, Radulph, the son of said William de Bochardby, entered to the seignory. His sisters Alice, Pavy, and Agnes were his heirs'

Pavey Ark is a fell in the English county of Cumbria. It is the largest cliff in the Langdales.

Early History of the Pavitt family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Pavitt research. Another 71 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1172, 1604, 1614 and 1747 are included under the topic Early Pavitt History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Pavitt Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Pavey, Pavie, Pavy, Pavis, Pafey, Paivey, Payvey, Pavier, Payver and many more.

Early Notables of the Pavitt family

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

Pavitt migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Pavitt Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Henry Creasy Pavitt, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1857 7

Pavitt Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Fulius M. Pavitt, aged 25, who immigrated to the United States, in 1904
Leonard A Pavitt, aged 20, who landed in America from London, in 1906
Iene Pavitt, aged 19, who immigrated to America from London, England, in 1907
Joseph Henry Pavitt, aged 63, who landed in America from London, England, in 1907
Annie Pavitt, aged 58, who landed in America from London, England, in 1907
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Pavitt (post 1700) +

James L. Pavitt (b. 1946), American Deputy Director for Operations for the CIA from 1999 until 2004
Bruce Pavitt, the American founder of record label Sub Pop
Keith Pavitt (1937-2002), English scholar in the field of Science and Technology Policy
William "Bill" Pavitt (b. 1920), former English professional footballer
Laurence Anstice Pavitt (1914-1989), British Labour and Co-operative Party politician

Citations +

Barber, Henry, British Family Names London: Elliot Stock, 62 Paternoster Row, 1894. 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
Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Cleveland, Dutchess of The Battle Abbey Roll with some Account of the Norman Lineages. London: John Murray, Abermarle Street, 1889. Print. Volume 2 of 3
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)