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Gover History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Citations

Gover History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The distinguished English surname Gover is thought to be derived from the Old English nickname "Gofair," meaning "one who goes gently or quietly." It is likely that the name was initially bestowed as a nickname during the Middle Ages.

Early Origins of the Gover family

The surname Gover was first found in Oxfordshire, where the Gover family was anciently seated as Lords of the Manor. The Saxon influence of English history diminished after the Battle of Hastings in 1066; the language of the courts was French for the next three centuries and the Norman ambience prevailed. Many Anglo-Saxon surnames survived, however, and the Old English name Gover was first referenced in the year 1223, when Gilbert Gofar was registered in the Pipe Rolls of Oxfordshire.

Early History of the Gover family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Gover research. Another 114 words (8 lines of text) covering the year 1240 is included under the topic Early Gover History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Gover Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Gover, Gofer, Gofair, Gopher, Govere, Govier and many more.

Early Notables of the Gover family

Distinguished members of the family include

the Gover family of Oxfordshire

Gover migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Gover Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Tho. Gover, who immigrated to Virginia in 1653
Tho Gover, who arrived in Virginia in 1653 1
Clement Gover, who settled in Maryland in 1665
Clement Gover, who arrived in Maryland in 1672 1

Gover Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Aaron Gover, who immigrated to Philadelphia in 1775
Aaron Gover, aged 20, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1776 1

Gover Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Daniel Gover, aged 24, who landed in Connecticut in 1812 1

Gover migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Gover Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

John Gover, English convict from Surrey, who was transported aboard the "Adamant" on March 16, 1821, settling in New South Wales, Australia 2
William Gover, English convict from Berkshire, who was transported aboard the "Asia" on October 22nd, 1824, settling in New South Wales, Australia 3

Gover migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 4

Gover Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

Rich Gover, who settled in Barbados in 1679

Contemporary Notables of the name Gover (post 1700) +

Robert Gover (b. 1929), American novelist who grew up in an endowed orphanage and became a best-selling novelist at age 30
William G. Gover (b. 1909), American Republican politician, Delegate to Michigan State Constitutional Convention from Montcalm District, 1961-62; Candidate in primary for Michigan State Senate 25th District, 1962 5
William C. Gover, American politician, Member of New York State Assembly from New York County 4th District, 1859-60, 1863 5
Walter Gover, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Oklahoma, 1952 5
W. B. Gover, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Oklahoma, 1944 5
Noel D. Gover, American politician, Mayor of Mt. Pleasant, Michigan, 1945 5
E. Murray Gover, American politician, Mayor of Hyattsville, Maryland, 1938-46 5
Bowen R. Gover, American Republican politician, Candidate in primary for U.S. Representative from Michigan 17th District, 1932, 1934, 1936, 1938; Protestants United Candidate for Governor of Michigan, 1938 5
B. R. Gover, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate in primary for U.S. Representative from Michigan 17th District, 1938 5
Charles Gover (d. 1872), English folklorist, son of Thomas Gover of Poplar, Middlesex 6
... (Another 6 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Citations +

Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Adamant voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1821 with 144 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/adamant/1821
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Asia 1 voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1824 with 9 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/asia/1824
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 21) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
Wikisource contributors. "Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900." Wikisource . Wikisource , 4 Jun. 2018. Web. 30 June 2020