Collver History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Etymology of Collver

What does the name Collver mean?

The name Collver comes from the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. It was a name for a person bearing some fancied resemblance to a dove, such as mildness of temper. The surname Collver is derived from the Old English word culfre, which in turn came from the Late Latin word columbula; this is a derivative of columba, which means dove. The nickname culfre was also used as a term of endearment. 1

Early Origins of the Collver family

The surname Collver was first found in Herefordshire where one of the first records of the name was William Culvere, or Culvert who was listed there in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273. The same roll lists Jon Culvard, or Culverd, or Culvert in Oxfordshire. 1 Geoffrey Kuluer was listed in a census dated 1215-1219 and Thomas Colvere was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Kent in 1334. 2

Early History of the Collver family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Collver research. Another 118 words (8 lines of text) covering the year 1273 is included under the topic Early Collver History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Collver Spelling Variations

Only recently has spelling become standardized in the English language. As the English language evolved in the Middle Ages, the spelling of names changed also. The name Collver has undergone many spelling variations, including Culver, Culvere and others.

Early Notables of the Collver family

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

Collver migration to Canada +

To escape the unstable social climate in England of this time, many families boarded ships for the New World with the hope of finding land, opportunity, and greater religious and political freedom. Although the voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, those families that arrived often found greater opportunities and freedoms than they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make significant contributions to the rapidly developing colonies in which they settled. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Collver were among those contributors:

Collver Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Rev. Jabez Collver, "Culver" U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1783 3
Mr. Timothy Collver, "Culver" U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1783 3

Contemporary Notables of the name Collver (post 1700) +

William J. "Bill" Collver (1867-1888), American Major League Baseball right fielder who played in one game in 1885 for the Boston Beaneaters
Richard Lee "Dick" Collver (1936-2014), Canadian politician, Leader of the Opposition in Saskatchewan (1978-1979)

Sources +

Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X