Colven History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Scotland
Ireland

Etymology of Colven

What does the name Colven mean?

The history of the Colven name began with the ancient Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. The name is derived 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 Colven family

The surname Colven 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 Colven family

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

Colven Spelling Variations

Sound was what guided spelling in the essentially pre-literate Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Also, before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Therefore, spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Colven family name include Colvin, Colvinne, Calvin, Coulvin, Cowlvin, Colvine, Calvine, Caulvin, Colwin, Calwin, Caulwin, Colwine, Calwine, Callvine, Callvin, Callwin, Collwin and many more.

Early Notables of the Colven 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 Colven Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Colven family to Ireland

Some of the Colven 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 Colven family

For political, religious, and economic reasons, thousands of English families boarded ships for Ireland, the Canadas, the America colonies, and many of smaller tropical colonies in the hope of finding better lives abroad. Although the passage on the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving, those families that survived the trip often went on to make valuable contributions to those new societies to which they arrived. Early immigrants bearing the Colven surname or a spelling variation of the name include : 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 Colven 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.