Calf Surname, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

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The Anglo-Saxon name Calf comes from Calf, a variant of the Old Norse personal name Kalfr, which means calf. However, several alternative interpretations exist. The name may be of nickname origin, derived from the Old English cealf which means calf, indicating one thought to possess the characteristics of a calf.

Calf Early Origins

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The surname Calf was first found in Lincolnshire, where they held a family seat from ancient times.

Calf Spelling Variations

One relatively recent invention that did much to standardize English spelling was the printing press. However, before its invention even the most literate people recorded their names according to sound rather than spelling. The spelling variations under which the name Calf has appeared include Calf, Calfe, Cauf, Caufe, Calffe and others.

Calf Early History

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Calf research. Another 479 words (34 lines of text) covering the years 1163, 1176, 1273, 1273, 1500, 1605 and 1738 are included under the topic Early Calf History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Calf Early Notables (pre 1700)

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

Calf In Ireland

Some of the Calf family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. Another 37 words (3 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

The Great Migration

At this time, the shores of the New World beckoned many English families that felt that the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. Thousands left England at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. A great portion of these settlers never survived the journey and even a greater number arrived sick, starving, and without a penny. The survivors, however, were often greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. These English settlers made significant contributions to those colonies that would eventually become the United States and Canada. An examination of early immigration records and passenger ship lists revealed that people bearing the name Calf arrived in North America very early:

Calf Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Daniel Calf, who landed in Boston in 1765

Calf Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

King Calf, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1750

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Citations

Other References

Dunkling, Leslie. Dictionary of Surnames. Toronto: Collins, 1998. Print. (ISBN 0004720598).
Robb H. Amanda and Andrew Chesler. Encyclopedia of American Family Names. New York: Haper Collins, 1995. Print. (ISBN 0-06-270075-8).
Burke, Sir Bernard. Burke's Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Landed Gentry: Including American Families with British Ancestry. (2 Volumes). London: Burke Publishing, 1939. Print.
Burke, Sir Bernard. Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Peerage and Baronetage, The Privy Council, Knightage and Compainonage. London: Burke Publishing, 1921. Print.
Matthews, John. Matthews' American Armoury and Blue Book. London: John Matthews, 1911. Print.
Mills, A.D. Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4).
Ingram, Rev. James. Translator Anglo-Saxon Chronicle 1823. Print.
Hitching, F.K and S. Hitching. References to English Surnames in 1601-1602. Walton On Thames: 1910. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0181-3).
Bowman, George Ernest. The Mayflower Reader A Selection of Articales from The Mayflower Descendent. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing. Print.
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).
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The Calf Family Crest was acquired from the Houseofnames.com archives. The Calf Family Crest was drawn according to heraldic standards based on published blazons. We generally include the oldest published family crest once associated with each surname.

This page was last modified on 27 May 2014 at 14:52.