Show ContentsCheves History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Cheves surname is derived from the Anglo-Norman French word "chivere" or "chevre," meaning "goat." The Latin for a nanny goat "capra" has in the past been used interchangeably as the surname of some family lines of this name.

Early Origins of the Cheves family

The surname Cheves was first found in Devon. The first known ancestor of the name was Roger de Chievre and Petronilla living circa 1000 A.D. in a town in the south of Belgium called by that name. Roger's sons William Chievre and his brother Ralf de la Pommeraie, were companions of William the Conqueror in the invasion of England in 1066 and were given large estates in Devon. A William Chievre, 1 Capra was listed in the Domesday Book as holding land in both Devon and Wiltshire.

In Ireland, Sir William Chevre (living 1174) settled in County Wexford about the time of the Strongbow invasion and witnessed the foundation charter for Tintern Abbey, County Wexford. He was the progenitor of the family in Ireland. William Chevir, or Chevyr (died 1446) was a noted Irish politician and judge. His younger brother John Chevir or Chevyr (c. 1410-1474) was an Irish judge and politician who held the offices of Lord Chief Justice of Ireland and Master of the Rolls in Ireland, and was also one of the first recorded Speakers of the Irish House of Commons.

Early History of the Cheves family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Cheves research. Another 58 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1172, 1186, 1296, 1327, 1463, 1614, 1637, 1690 and 1708 are included under the topic Early Cheves History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Cheves Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Chever, Chevers, Chevercourt, Chevercot, Cheves, Chevys, Cheever, Cheevers, Chilvers, Chivers and many more.

Early Notables of the Cheves family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Ezekiel Cheever (1614-1708) English-born, immigrant to America in 1637 and became a schoolmaster, and the author of probably the earliest American school book, "Accidence, A...
Another 32 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Cheves Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Cheves family to Ireland

Some of the Cheves family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 119 words (8 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Cheves migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Cheves Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • K. Cheves, aged 7, who arrived in New York in 1896 aboard the ship "Massachusetts" from London, England 2
Cheves Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Langdon Cheves, aged 54, who arrived in New York in 1906 aboard the ship "Lucania" from Liverpool, England 2
  • Justo Cheves, aged 25, who arrived in New York in 1919 aboard the ship "Santa Marta" from Cristobal, C.Z. 2
  • Isabella Paton Cheves, aged 53, originally from Plymouth, England, who arrived in New York in 1919 aboard the ship "Noordam" from Plymouth 2
  • Eugenio Cheves, aged 28, who arrived in New York in 1924 aboard the ship "Pietro Gori" from Naples, Italy 2

Contemporary Notables of the name Cheves (post 1700) +

  • Patrick Gray Cheves (1820-1883), Scottish-born, American farmer and politician, Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from Racine County, Wisconsin in 1856 and 1878
  • Joe Cheves (1918-2007), American professional golfer and co-founder of the American Golf Association
  • Monnie Tom Cheves (1902-1988), American college professor and politician, Louisiana State Representative from Natchitoches Parish (1952-1960)
  • James Parks "Buck" Cheves (1898-1995), American college football player and referee
  • Langdon Cheves (1776-1857), American politician, lawyer and businessman, 8th Speaker of the United States House of Representatives (1814-1815), Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from South Carolina (1810-1815)
  • Major-General Gilbert Xavier Cheves (1895-1985), American Commanding Officer 365th Armored Regiment (1942-1943) 3


The Cheves 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: En dieu est ma foy
Motto Translation: In God is my faith.


  1. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  2. Ellis Island Search retrieved 15th November 2022. Retrieved from https://heritage.statueofliberty.org/passenger-result
  3. Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2011, November 3) Gilbert Cheves. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Cheves/Gilbert_Xavier/USA.html


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