Covell History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The name Covell was brought to England in the wave of migration that followed the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Covell family lived in Yorkshire. The family was originally from Chauvel in Manche, Normandy, and it is to their residence in this area that the name refers. 1
Another source claims the name could have been a nickname from the Old English word "cufle" for "cloak." 2
Early Origins of the Covell family
The surname Covell was first found in Yorkshire where Robert Covell was listed there in 1476 in the York Freeman's Register. 3 Today, the Covel variant is popular in Lincolnshire.
Early History of the Covell family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Covell research. Another 74 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1584, 1588, 1589, 1595, 1596, 1601, 1614, 1638, 1654, 1658, 1661, 1688 and 1722 are included under the topic Early Covell History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Covell 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 Covell have been found, including Covell, Covel and others.
Early Notables of the Covell family
Outstanding amongst the family at this time was
- John Covel, Covell, Colvill (1638-1722), English clergyman and scientist who became Master of Christ's College, Cambridge (1688-1722) and vice-chancellor of the University. He was the son of William C...
- William Covell (d. 1614?), was an English divine, a native of Chatterton, Lancashire. Little is known of his heritage but he "received his academical education at Christ's College, Cambridge, and was...
Covell Ranking
In the United States, the name Covell is the 10,519th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 4
Covell 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 Covell were among those contributors:
Covell Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
- Cegona Covell, aged 15, who landed in New England in 1635 5
- Cesara Covell, aged 15, British settler who arrived in New England in 1635 aboard the ship "Abigail" 5
- Ezra Covell who settled in Boston Massachusetts in 1635 with his brother Joseph
- Jo Covell, aged 18, who arrived in Virginia in 1635 5
- John Covell, who landed in Virginia in 1641 5
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Covell migration to Canada +
Some of the first settlers of this family name were:
Covell Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
- Mr. Simeon Covell U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1783 6
Covell migration to Australia +
Emigration to
Australia followed the
First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:
Covell Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
- William Covell, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Princess Royal" in 1848 7
Contemporary Notables of the name Covell (post 1700) +
- George G. Covell (b. 1860), American Republican politician, Member of Michigan State House of Representatives from Grand Traverse District, 1893-96, Grand Traverse County Prosecuting Attorney, 1913-14 8
- Willis Covell, American Republican politician, Member of Connecticut State House of Representatives from Pomfret; Elected 1910 8
- Otis E. Covell (b. 1858), American Republican politician, Member of Vermont State House of Representatives from Lemington, 1890, 1910 8
- Joseph Covell, American politician, Member of New York State Assembly from Fulton and Hamilton counties, 1866-67 8
- Douglas A. Covell, American Republican politician, Candidate for Michigan State House of Representatives 81st District, 1970 8
- Charles W. Covell, American politician, First Selectman of South Windsor, Connecticut, 1919-20 8
- Albigence Covell, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for Connecticut State House of Representatives from Putnam, 1904 8
- Albert L. Covell, American politician, Mayor of Gloversville, New York, 1902-03 8
- Major-General William Edward Raab Covell (1892-1975), American Attached to Office of the Under Secretary of War (1941-1942) 9
- Daniel Christopher Covell (b. 1971), American professional wrestler
- ... (Another 3 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Citations +
- The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
- Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
- Hanks, Patricia and Flavia Hodges, A Dictionary of Surnames. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1988. Print. (ISBN 0-19-211592-8)
- "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
- 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)
- Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
- State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) PRINCESS ROYAL 1848. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1848PrincessRoyal.htm
- The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, May 19) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
- Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2011, November 23) William Covell. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Covell/William_Edward_Raab/USA.html