| ![Show Contents]() Biever History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
England
Etymology of BieverWhat does the name Biever mean? The vast movement of people that followed the Norman Conquest of England of 1066 brought the Biever family name to the British Isles. They lived in Berkshire. The family name, however, is of other geographical derivations, referring to any of several locations in Normandy called Beauvoir. The name is composed of the Old French roots beu, which means fair or lovely, and voir, which means to see, and indicates the bearer's residence in "a place with a fine view." 1 2 Early Origins of the Biever familyThe surname Biever was first found in Yorkshire where Ralph de Belueeir was listed in the Pipe Rolls of 1170. Later, John de Beauveir was listed in the Assize Rolls for 1204 and William Bever, de Beuver in the Curia Regis Rolls for 1207-1208. 3 The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 included the following: (Prior) de Beuver (Nottinghamshire), or Beauver (Leicestershire); John de Beauver, Yorkshire; and Thurstan de Beauver, Yorkshire. 4 Another early roll notes: John de Beauver, Yorkshire, Henry III-Edward I: Testa de Nevill, sive Liber Feodorum, temp. Henry III-Edward I. 5 Early History of the Biever familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Biever research. Another 81 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Biever History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Biever Spelling VariationsA multitude of spelling variations characterize Norman surnames. Many variations occurred because Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules. The introduction of Norman French to England also had a pronounced effect, as did the court languages of Latin and French. Therefore, one person was often referred to by several different spellings in a single lifetime. The various spellings include Beaver, Beavor, Beavers, Beavors, Beavoirs, Beevers and many more. Early Notables of the Biever familyMore information is included under the topic Early Biever Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
| Biever migration to the United States | + |
Many English families left England, to avoid the chaos of their homeland and migrated to the many British colonies abroad. Although the conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and some travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute, once in the colonies, many of the families prospered and made valuable contributions to the cultures of what would become the United States and Canada. Research into the origins of individual families in North America has revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Biever or a variant listed above:
Biever Settlers in United States in the 18th Century- Peter Biever, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1739 6
Biever Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- Joseph Biever, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1872 6
| Contemporary Notables of the name Biever (post 1700) | + |
- Margrit Biever Mondavi (1925-2016), née Kellenberger, Swiss-born American businesswoman, Vice President of Cultural Affairs at Robert Mondavi Winery
- 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)
- Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
- 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)
- Testa de Nevill or "Liber Feodorum" or "Book of Fees," thought to have been written by Ralph de Nevill, for King John (1199–1216)
- 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)
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