Coveney History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

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England

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The Anglo-Saxon name Coveney comes from the family having resided in Coventry in the county of Warwick.

Early Origins of the Coveney family

The surname Coveney was first found in Warwickshire at Coventry. "In ancient records this place is called Coventre, and Conventrey, probably from the foundation of a convent, of which St. Osberg was abbess in the year 1016, when it was burnt by Canute, King of Denmark, and Edric the traitor, who, having invaded Mercia, destroyed many towns in Warwickshire. " 1

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 list Thomas de Coventre, Oxfordshire; and William de Covingtre, Oxfordshire while the Testa de Nevill, sive Liber Feodorum, temp. Henry III-Edward I list Walter de Coventre, Lincolnshire, Henry III-Edward I. 2 The Placita de Quo Warranto, temp. Edward I-III lists Alexander de Coventre, Warwickshire, 20 Edward I (during the twentieth year of Edward I's reign.) 3

The early Scottish branch of the family claim descent from the county of Warwick, England. "Peter de Coventre rendered homage at Berwick, 1291. The earliest bearers of the name in Scotland appear to have been churchmen. Johannes de Couentre was a charter witness in Angus, 1344, and William de Couentre granted anew the church of Inhyrharyte (Inverharity) in the diocese of St. Andrews the following year." 4

Barons Coventry descend from John Coventry who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1426.

Early History of the Coveney family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Coveney research. Another 216 words (15 lines of text) covering the years 1160, 1291, 1348, 1426, 1509, 1539, 1564, 1575, 1578, 1604, 1606, 1607, 1612, 1619, 1621, 1625, 1626, 1628, 1629, 1636, 1640, 1641, 1642, 1652, 1660, 1661, 1672, 1674, 1679, 1680, 1681, 1685, 1686, 1687, 1689 and 1699 are included under the topic Early Coveney History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Coveney Spelling Variations

Coveney has been spelled many different ways. Before English spelling became standardized over the last few hundred years, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. As the English language changed in the Middle Ages, absorbing pieces of Latin and French, as well as other languages, the spelling of people's names also changed considerably, even over a single lifetime. Spelling variants included: Coventry, Coventrie, Coventre, Coventreye and many more.

Early Notables of the Coveney family

Notables of this surname at this time include: Thomas Coventry, 1st Baron Coventry (1578-1640), English lawyer, politician and judge, Lord Keeper of the Great Seal (1625); Thomas Coventry, 2nd Baron Coventry (1606-1661), an English politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1626 and 1629, member of the House of Lords, supporter of the Royalist cause in the English Civil War; The Honourable Henry Coventry (1619-1686), an English politician, Secretary of State for the...
Another 75 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Coveney Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Coveney migration to the United States +

In an attempt to escape the chaos experienced in England, many English families boarded overcrowded and diseased ships sailing for the shores of North America and other British colonies. Those families hardy enough, and lucky enough, to make the passage intact were rewarded with land and a social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families became important contributors to the young colonies in which they settled. Early immigration and passenger lists have documented some of the first Coveneys to arrive on North American shores:

Coveney Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Honer Coveney, who landed in Boston, Massachusetts in 1767 5

Coveney migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Coveney Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

William Coveney, aged 28, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the brig "Matilda" from Cork, Ireland
Michael Coveney, aged 21, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the brig "Matilda" from Cork, Ireland

Coveney migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Coveney Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. William Coveney, (b. 1809), aged 28, English seaman who was convicted in London, England for life for stealing, transported aboard the "Charles Kerr" on 6th June 1837, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 6
Mary Coveney, aged 16, who arrived in South Australia in 1849 aboard the ship "Elgin" 7
Mr. Henry Coveney, British Convict who was convicted in Clerkenwell, London, England for 10 years, transported aboard the "Corona" on 13th October 1866, arriving in Western Australia, Australia 8

Coveney migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Coveney Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. William Coveney, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Egmont" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 14th June 1858 9
Mary A. Coveney, aged 22, a servant, who arrived in Westland aboard the ship "Gainsborough" in 1878 10
Sarah Coveney, aged 19, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Zealandia" in 1879

Contemporary Notables of the name Coveney (post 1700) +

Jeremiah W. Coveney, American Democratic Party politician, Postmaster at Boston, Massachusetts, 1893-97 11
Frank Coveney, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for New York State Assembly from Suffolk County 1st District, 1954 11
Patrick Coveney (1934-2022), Irish prelate of the Catholic Church who worked in the diplomatic service of the Holy See from 1966 to 2009

The Coveney Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Candide et constanter
Motto Translation: Fairly and firmly.