Severe History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Early Origins of the Severe family

The surname Severe was first found in Somerset where the mononymous Seuare was a Knights Templar in 1185. The name was derived from the Old English woman's name for "sea passage."

A few years later in Suffolk, Sephare was registered at Bury St Edmunds in 1188 and Radulfus filius Sefare was later registered in 1221. As a forename Seuar' Boykin was listed at Ely, Suffolk in 1277. The Pipe Rolls for Cornwall listed William Seuare there in 1185 and Hugh Seuare was found in the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1285. In Bedfordshire, we found Walter Sefare in the Pipe Rolls for 1230. 1

Again in Essex, Thomas Safare (Savare) was recorded in the Subsidy Rolls for 1327 and in Suffolk, William Sefare and Ralph Seffare were registered in the Subsidy Rolls for 1327. 1

A scan through the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 revealed John le Severe in Huntingdonshire holding lands there at that time. 2 In Norfolk, Henry Sever was registered there in 1441. 3

Early History of the Severe family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Severe research. Another 64 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1279, 1327, 1427, 1440, 1471 and 1616 are included under the topic Early Severe History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Severe Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Sever, Sevior, Sevyer, Seeviour, Siveyer, Sivier, Siver, Sivyer, Saviour, Saver, Seyvior, Sceviour, Scievor and many more.

Early Notables of the Severe family

Distinguished members of the family include Henry Sever (d. 1471), First Provost of Eton College and Warden of Merton. In 1427, he served as Senior Proctor in the University. He...
Another 29 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Severe Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Severe Ranking

In the United States, the name Severe is the 17,999^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 4

Migration of the Severe family

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: the name represented in many forms and recorded from the mid 17th century in the great migration from Europe. Migrants settled in the eastern seaboard from Newfoundland, to Maine, to Virginia, the Carolinas, and to the islands..

Historic Events for the Severe family +

Monongah Mine

Mr. Beth Severe (b. 1879), Scottish coal miner who was in mine 8 at the Monongah mine on 6th December 1907 when it exploded and collapsed; he died 5
Mr. Jessie Severe (b. 1871), American coal miner who was in mine 8 at the Monongah mine on 6th December 1907 when it exploded and collapsed; he died 5

Citations +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Rye, Walter, A History of Norfolk. London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, 1885. Print
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
Monongah Mining Disaster retrieved on 8th August 2021. (Retrieved fromhttps://usminedisasters.miningquiz.com/saxsewell/monongah.htm).