Show ContentsCheverton History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Cheverton family

The surname Cheverton was first found in Cornwall where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor of St. Paul. "The manor of Lanivet, [in the parish of Lanivet, Cornwall] which was formerly connected with the religious house at St. Bennet's, being separated from it at the Reformation, became shortly after that event, the property of the Chivertons." 1

"Ilton, in Malborough, [Devon] once belonged to the Bozuns, then to the Chiverstons, and finally came to the Courtenays. Sir John Chiverston built the fortified mansion, afterwards known as Ilton Castle, in 1335." 2

Early History of the Cheverton family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Cheverton research. Another 134 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1079, 1142, 1149, 1162, 1510, 1600, 1621 and 1658 are included under the topic Early Cheverton History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Cheverton Spelling Variations

Cornish surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. The frequent changes in surnames are due to the fact that the Old and Middle English languages lacked definite spelling rules. The official court languages, which were Latin and French, were also influential on the spelling of a surname. Since the spelling of surnames was rarely consistent in medieval times, and scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded rather than adhering to any specific spelling rules, it was common to find the same individual referred to with different spellings of their surname in the ancient chronicles. Moreover, a large number of foreign names were brought into England, which accelerated and accentuated the alterations to the spelling of various surnames. Lastly, spelling variations often resulted from the linguistic differences between the people of Cornwall and the rest of England. The Cornish spoke a unique Brythonic Celtic language which was first recorded in written documents during the 10th century. However, they became increasingly Anglicized, and Cornish became extinct as a spoken language in 1777, although it has been revived by Cornish patriots in the modern era. The name has been spelled Chiverton, Chifferton, Shiverton, Shifferton, Chiverlon, Chevedon, Shevedon, Shefedon and many more.

Early Notables of the Cheverton family

Another 41 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Cheverton Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Cheverton 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:

Cheverton Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Frank Cheverton, aged 20, a farm labourer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Rodney" in 1875

Contemporary Notables of the name Cheverton (post 1700) +

  • Roy P. Cheverton, American director, cinematographer and producer

RMS Titanic
  • Mr. William Edward Cheverton (d. 1912), aged 27, Welsh Saloon Steward from Newport, Pembrokeshire who worked aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking and was recovered by SS Ilford 3


  1. Hutchins, Fortescue, The History of Cornwall, from the Earliest Records and Traditions to the Present Time. London: William Penaluna, 1824. Print
  2. Worth, R.N., A History of Devonshire London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, E.G., 1895. Digital
  3. Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html


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