Colvan History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

Etymology of Colvan

What does the name Colvan mean?

The name Colvan is tied to the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of England. It comes from the Old Welsh names Colwin and Coluin. The name Coluinus was recorded in Devon in the Domesday Book of 1086.

Early Origins of the Colvan family

The surname Colvan was first found in Devon where they held a family seat from very ancient times, some say long before the Norman Conquest in 1066.

Early History of the Colvan family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Colvan research. Another 111 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1040, 1066, 1086, 1845, 1890 and 1927 are included under the topic Early Colvan History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Colvan 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 Colvan has undergone many spelling variations, including Colvin, Colvinne, Calvin, Coulvin, Cowlvin, Colvine, Calvine, Caulvin, Colwin, Calwin, Caulwin, Colwine, Calwine, Callvine, Callvin, Callwin, Collwin and many more.

Early Notables of the Colvan family

Sir Sidney Colvin (1845-1927), an Englishman born in Norwood, Surrey also led a remarkable life. He was an English scholar who studied at Trinity College in Cambridge and went on to become a noted professor of fine art at Cambridge. As well as teaching at Cambridge, he was also...
Another 49 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Colvan Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Colvan family to Ireland

Some of the Colvan family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 69 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Colvan family

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 Colvan were among those contributors: William Colvin settled in Maryland in 1714; Hugh Colvin settled in Pennsylvania in 1773; followed by Charles, James, Jane, John, Robert and William Colvin, all settled in Philadelphia between 1811 and 1856.

The Colvan 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: In hoc signo vinces
Motto Translation: Under this sign thou shall conquer.