Govington History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Govington is a name of ancient Anglo-Saxon origin and comes from the family once having lived at Covington in Huntingdon. The name was a habitational name having derived from the Old English "Cofingtun" which meant "Cofa's settlement." 1 Covington dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086 where it was first listed as Covintune. 2

Early Origins of the Govington family

The surname Govington was first found in at Covington in Huntingdonshire (now part of Cambridgeshire.) There is also a Scottish branch that had an earliest record of the 12th century.

In fact, Covington and Thankeston is a parish in Lanarkshire that has an interesting origin. "Of these ancient parishes, which were united about the beginning of the 18th century, the former derives its name, anciently Colbanstoun, from its proprietor Colban, in the 12th century; and the latter, from a Flemish settler named Tankard or Thankard, who obtained a grant of lands here during the reign of Malcolm IV. " 3

Another source claims that Covinton (Covington) was probably derived from the Latin for "Villa Colbani."

Spelling changes were frequent as seen by Thomas de Colbainestun who witnessed a charter by William the Lion in Dumfriesshire c. 1187 and Thomas de Colbaynstun who witnessed the resignation of lands of Ingilbristoun in 1204. 4

Early History of the Govington family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Govington research. Another 123 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1120, 1204, 1296 and 1304 are included under the topic Early Govington History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Govington 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 Govington family name include Covington, Colvaynston and others.

Early Notables of the Govington family

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

Migration of the Govington family

For political, religious, and economic reasons, thousands of English families boarded ships for Ireland, Canada, 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 Govington surname or a spelling variation of the name include: Thomas Covington and his wife Ann who received a land patent in Maryland in 1665; Arthur Covington, who came to Virginia in 1683; Peter Covington, an English convict who was sent to Maryland in 1725.

Citations +

Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of Scotland. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)