Show ContentsMcAvera History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

McAvera is one of the oldest family names to come from the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. It is derived from the given name Averary. For example, the first recorded instance of the name is Rogerus filius Averary. His name means Rogerus son of Averary. Over time, the name changed until it achieved its modern form.

One distinguished source notes: "This is a name which may claim its origin with nearly equal probability from several distinct sources, which I shall briefly enumerate. I. Aviarim, a keeper of the birds. The Forest Charter (s. 14,) enacts that freemen may have in their woods "avyries of sparhawkes, falcons, eagles, and herons." II. A very, the place where forage for the king's horses was kept; either from the Latin avena, Anglo-Norman haver, oats, or from aver, a northern provincialism for a working horse. III. Alberic, a German personal name, Latinized Albericus, and softened in Norman times to Aubrey. " [1]

Early Origins of the McAvera family

The surname McAvera was first found in the county of Northumberland where they held a family seat from very ancient times. Rogerus filius Averary resided in the year 1166, and held manors and estates. [2]

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 had two entries of the family with very early spellings: Hugh filius Auveray, Nottinghamshire; and Ralph Averey, Oxfordshire. [3]

One branch of the family was found in Egginton, Derbyshire from ancient times. "The church [of Egginton], an ancient structure with a nave, chancel, aisles, and a neat low tower, contains several monuments to the Every family, and has some remains of stained glass." [4]

Further down in the parish of Lansallos, Cornwall, another branch of the family was found. "The manor of Tregavithick was purchased of the Avery family in 1751, by the Rev. Joshua Howell, father of the Rev. J. F. Howell, one of the canons residentiary of Exeter, the present proprietor." [5] There is no mention of how long the Avery family held the manor.

Early History of the McAvera family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our McAvera research. Another 111 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1275, 1526, 1548, 1588, 1596, 1620, 1643, 1653, 1654, 1664, 1679, 1690, 1696, 1700, 1766, 1775, 1794, 1799, 1800, 1804, 1808 and 1866 are included under the topic Early McAvera History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McAvera 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 McAvera has undergone many spelling variations, including Avery, Averie, Avary, Every, MacAvera and others.

Early Notables of the McAvera family

Notables of the family at this time include Sir Richard Avery; Samuel Avery (died 1664) was an English merchant and politician who sat in the House of Commons in 1654; John Every (c 1643-1679), an English landowner and politician from Dorset who sat in the House of Commons in 1679; and James Avery (b. 1620-1700), Cornish immigrant to America to become an American colonial landowner, legislator, and a military commander in King Philip's War.Henry Every, also Avery or Avary, (c. 1653-after 1696), sometimes given as John Avery...
Another 87 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early McAvera Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the McAvera family to Ireland

Some of the McAvera family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the McAvera 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 McAvera were among those contributors: Jacob and George who settled in Virginia in 1635. Christopher Avery settled in Gloucester Massachusetts in 1640.



  1. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  2. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  3. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  4. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  5. Hutchins, Fortescue, The History of Cornwall, from the Earliest Records and Traditions to the Present Time. London: William Penaluna, 1824. Print


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