Mawer History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The surname Mawer was first found in Somerset, where John le Mawere, le Mowere was listed in the Assize Rolls of 1225. Later, Robert le Mouer was listed in Kent in 1263 and John le Mawer was found in the Subsidy Rolls for Yorkshire in 1297. In Suffolk, the first record there was Roger le Mower who was listed in 1305 and in Cumberland Alan Mawer was listed in the Subsidy Rolls for 1322. 1

In the north of England, the "aw" spelling was most common. 2 1 The name Mawer, like many surnames, is most likely occupational in origin; in other words, the first bearer of the name took it because it pertained to his profession.

According to legend, an "Anglo-Saxon, soon after the Norman Conquest, acquired this name (Leofric the Mower) from his having overcome twenty men with a scythe." 3

The name comes from the Old English word "mawan," meaning "to mow," so the first bearer of the name was most likely one who mowed for a living. The possibility also exists that there is another English Mower family whose name is a variation on the Irish name Moore, but this line of ancestry is rare, if it exists at all.

"Mawer was the name of a family that held much property in Winthorpe [Nottinghamshire] and in other places in the county 300 years ago. There were Mawers in Ereiston in the reign of Elizabeth I." 4

In Scotland, the name is derived from the "Gaelic maor, a subordinate officer in various capacities, a steward. The Scots pronunciation is Mawr." 5 Here the name also includes the variants Maver and Mavor. "Mavor is a Speyside surname. Wille Mawar and Johnne Mawar were declared innocent of any art in the detention of King James III in Edinburgh Castle, 1482. Walter Mawer witnessed a bond of caution in 1564. John Mawar in Urquhart was warned to appear before the Lord Regent, 1574, and David Mawer of the Loch (Lochs near Urquhart) was slain by some Inneses, 1576. " 5